English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For May 10/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
The Spirit of
the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed meto bring good news to the poor
Luke 04/14-21: “Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit,
returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding
country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When
he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on
the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the
prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed meto bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to
the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,to let the oppressed go free, to
proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it
back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed
on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled
in your hearing.’”
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published on 09-10 May/2026
The victories of the mullahs and Hezbollah are defeats of destruction,
suicide, calamities for their people, plague, ignorance, madness and morbid
religious delusions/Elias Bejjani/May 09//2026
May 07, 2008 Barbaric Invasion of Beirut & Mount Lebanon/Elias Bejjani/May
07/2026
May 6 Martyrs' Day: Assassinating Memory to Flatter the New Ottoman-Erdoganist
"Sublime Porte"/Elias Bejjani/May 06/2026
Lebanon During the Truce: Over
120 Strikes in the South and Dozens of Martyrs
Israeli drone strikes kill 4 in Lebanon, southern airstrikes kill at least 13
EU Official Urges Increased Humanitarian Access in South Lebanon
Hezbollah launches missiles, drones at north Israel in response to Dahieh strike
Israeli strike kills seven in south Lebanon as Hezbollah targets northern Israel
Syrian girl, 12, and her father killed in south Lebanon by 3 Israeli missiles
Israeli army issues evacuation warning for nine south Lebanon villages
Hezbollah says targeted troops in northern Israel with drone
Israeli army says it struck Hezbollah weapons sites and drone launch platforms
in southern
PM Salam in Damascus: Progress on key Lebanon-Syria issues and agreement to
deepen cooperation across security, economy and borders
Syria president discusses security with visiting Lebanon PM
30 truck Caritas Lebanon aid convoy reaches border towns, returns safely to
Beirut
France loses influence in Lebanon, as Washington takes center stage on Hezbollah
disarmament/Laura Hülsemann/Now Lebanon/May 09/2026
Lebanon’s Negotiating Path, Conditions and Obstacles'/Dr. Nassif Hitti/Asharq
Al-Awsat/May 09/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on 09-10 May/2026
US, Iran No Closer to Ending War
Trump says expecting Iran response to latest proposal ‘tonight’
UK sends warship to Middle East ahead of Hormuz mission
Trump says expecting Iran response to latest proposal 'tonight'
Netanyahu mandates end of Iran nuclear program, warns against long peace talks:
Sources
Syria president changes govt officials and ministers, replaces brother
Bahrain arrests 41 people linked to Iran’s IRGC
Saudi Arabia expresses support for Bahrain over security measures
Putin: I hope the Iran-US conflict ends as soon as possible
Putin says still not received any proposals from Ukraine on POW swap
Putin says Ukraine war is 'heading to an end'
Putin says Ukraine war is 'heading to an end'
Putin says soldiers in Ukraine fighting 'aggressive force' backed by NATO
US declassifies UFO files showing unexplained sightings but no evidence of
extraterrestrial life
Merz says Europe wants a strong NATO and shares US goal of ending Iran war
Will AI level up skills — or widen inequality?
Titles For The Latest
English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on on 09-10 May/2026
Never Trust the Iranian Regime – And NO to a 'Moratorium'/Dr. Majid
Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/May 09/2026
This Is How Mohammed bin Salman Succeeded/Turki al-Faisal/Asharq Al-Awsat/May09/2026
Will AI level up skills — or widen inequality?/Maria Lombardi/Arab News/May 09,
2026
Institutional ties deepen Saudi-Turkish strategic alignment/Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab
News/May 09, 2026
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials
published
on 09-10 May/2026
The victories of the mullahs and Hezbollah are
defeats of destruction, suicide, calamities for their people, plague, ignorance,
madness and morbid religious delusions
Elias Bejjani/May 09//2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/144467/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjrmfwGPbgY
The arrogance of Iran's mullah regime and its disregard for its internal reality
and actual military capabilities laid the foundation for the collapse of its
expansionist project.
Instead of reassessing the balance of power and backing down from its suicidal
nuclear ambitions, the regime doubled down on stubbornness and arrogance. It
resorted to threats and loud rhetoric—mainly targeting the United States and
Israel—convinced it possessed the power to deter and challenge the world.
But this hollow arrogance brought about a decisive response from President
Donald Trump, who moved swiftly to dismantle Iran’s missile and nuclear
infrastructure, isolate the regime diplomatically, and deal a fatal blow to its
unrealistic nuclear dreams—dreams that never matched the true size or capacity
of Iran’s resources.
As for the much-hyped Iranian threats to strike the U.S. and Israel, they are
nothing more than empty soundbites—completely detached from reality. Iran, which
hasn't won a direct military confrontation in over four decades, is incapable of
confronting either the U.S. or Israeli power. All it can do is resort to media
noise and hollow bluster that change nothing in the real balance of power.
Just like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other ideologically driven groups—whether Arab
nationalists, leftists, or Sunni and Shiite political Islamists—Iran’s rulers
have fallen into the trap of fatal miscalculation.
They have completely lost touch with reality, failing to assess their own true
capabilities or those of the so-called “Great Satan” (America) and “Little
Satan” (Israel). Instead, they remain trapped in delusional, pathological
fantasies that they claim are “divinely inspired.”
They have misunderstood their true size and misjudged their enemies. This
chronic mental and ideological dysfunction is what has brought them to the brink
of total collapse—just like all others in history who have failed to understand
their own limits and those of their opponents.
Why Do Ideologues Drag Their Nations into Lost Battles?
Following the political and military developments in the Middle East raises a
simple and urgent question:
Why do ideologically driven leaders—whether religious or political—consistently
drag their countries into doomed wars that only bring destruction, despair, and
ruin?
The answer lies in the widespread disease of strategic miscalculation, one that
afflicts, among many others, the rulers of Tehran and their militant
proxies—particularly Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iraq’s Popular
Mobilization Forces (PMF). Add to them the larger landscape of political Islam
in both its Sunni and Shiite forms, as well as their counterparts in the Arab
and global leftist revolutionary camps.
The Illusion of Power and the Detachment from Reality
These groups suffer from a narcissistic overestimation of their own power,
constantly fueled by closed ideological narratives that claim they possess
absolute truth and divine or historical destiny.
They live inside echo chambers filled with self-affirming beliefs and dogma.
They see themselves as eternally victorious and divinely favored—even as their
reality is one of failure and humiliation. At the same time, they deny or
downplay the strength of their adversaries, leading to decisions based on
fantasy, wishful thinking, and delusion rather than truth and sober analysis.
Psychological Mechanisms Behind Strategic Stupidity
This behavior can be understood through several psychological mechanisms and
cognitive distortions:
Confirmation Bias: Ideologues seek only the information that supports their
beliefs and ignore all contradicting evidence.
Groupthink: These groups turn inward, suppressing dissent and rewarding blind
conformity.
Collective Narcissism: They see themselves as morally and ideologically
superior, incapable of error or defeat.
Identity Anchoring: Their ideology is so deeply tied to their group identity
that admitting defeat would mean personal and collective collapse.
Illusion of Control: They believe they can control outcomes and destiny—despite
reality proving otherwise.
When Defeat Is Rebranded as “Victory”
When these actors suffer catastrophic defeats, they don’t admit failure.
Instead, they resort to pathological justification and redefine their losses as
moral or symbolic victories.
This is precisely what Hamas does: it brought destruction, famine, and
displacement to the people of Gaza, yet still claims it achieved “divine
victory.”
Hezbollah is no different: its fighters are killed daily, its facilities bombed,
its leaders targeted deep inside Beirut, and yet it still clings to its weapons
and boasts about “steadfastness” and “resistance.”
Iran’s Mullahs: Arrogance on the Road to Collapse
The clearest and most dangerous example of strategic blindness caused by
miscalculation is the Iranian regime. Israel, with support from the United
States, has systematically destroyed the military infrastructure that the
mullahs built over 40 years across Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen. One by one,
their nuclear facilities and regional influence have been dismantled.
Yet the regime lives in a state of total denial.
It believes that its stubbornness and arrogance will somehow reverse the
strategic tide. It has rejected every diplomatic offramp, believing it can defy
America, Israel, and the international community.
The result? Its capabilities continue to erode. Its commanders are assassinated
with precision, from Yemen to Damascus. Its economy is strangled by sanctions.
And its people suffer from poverty, repression, and hopelessness. Still, the
regime clings to the myth of “resistance” as if it were a viable strategy. In
truth, it is a suicidal illusion.
Collapse Is Inevitable—and the Price Will Be High
What the mullahs and their allies fail to realize is that their ideological
stubbornness will only lead to a devastating collapse—not only of their regimes,
but of thousands of innocent lives that will be caught in the fallout.
Hezbollah, now a burden on Lebanon and its own Shiite community, has no exit
strategy. Its ideology leaves no room for retreat. Hamas, which betrayed Gaza,
has no option but to continue destroying what remains of its people’s lives. As
for the mullahs, they have passed the point of no return. Their regime is
delegitimized, cornered, and running out of time.
Conclusion: When reason is replaced by delusion, hallucination, and the
narcissism of miscalculation and distorted perception of reality. What unites
these actors is that they have all replaced reason with ideology, analysis with
slogans, and truth with delusion. They do not know when to win or when to
surrender, because they are prisoners of ideological narcissism that makes
retreat impossible. For them, miscalculation is not just a strategic flaw—it is
a fatal condition. One that doesn’t merely topple regimes, but devastates
nations and destroys entire peoples.
May 07, 2008 Barbaric Invasion of Beirut &
Mount Lebanon
Elias Bejjani/May 07/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/118016/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WOToQkmfMU&t=81s
May 7, 2008, is forever etched in
Lebanon’s collective memory as a criminal day of shame—when murderers, invaders,
and mercenary militias serving the Iranian regime launched a barbaric coup
against the Lebanese state, its people, and its sovereignty.
Hezbollah, in collaboration with Amal Movement, the Syrian Social Nationalist
Party (SSNP), and other armed groups loyal to the Syrian-Iranian axis of evil,
invaded the capital Beirut and parts of Mount Lebanon. In this coordinated and
premeditated assault, these militias violated the sanctity of the capital,
terrorized its peaceful civilians, displaced families, looted properties,
tortured innocents, and murdered the defenseless—all under the pretext of
resisting “government decisions” that challenged Hezbollah’s illegal military
communications network.
This day, now known infamously as the "Black 7th of May," marked a turning point
in Lebanon’s modern history—a moment when the mask of so-called "resistance"
fell and exposed the true face of Hezbollah: a terrorist militia acting on
behalf of Tehran to subdue Lebanon through force and intimidation.
Michel Aoun, the political Iscariot of modern Lebanon, opportunistically
justified and later benefited from this criminal invasion. His alliance with
Hezbollah paved his path to the presidency in 2016. During his tenure, Aoun
dismantled the state from within, surrendered its institutions to Hezbollah’s
authority, and contributed to Lebanon’s total collapse—politically,
economically, and morally.
The May 7 invasion was not just a military operation. It was an Iranian-led coup
attempt against the legitimate Lebanese state. It desecrated Beirut’s freedom,
targeted Sunni neighborhoods, occupied media outlets, and left dozens dead. Its
goal: to prove that no Lebanese authority—civil or military—could ever stand
against Hezbollah without paying a deadly price.
To this day, the invasion’s consequences remain: Hezbollah continues to act as
an armed state within a state. Palestinian and Syrian armed elements still
operate freely in their camps. The sovereignty of Lebanon remains hostage to
Tehran's regional ambitions.
Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied
This criminal and barbaric invasion must not be forgotten. The
perpetrators—local and foreign—must one day be brought to justice. The Lebanese
people, especially those in the diaspora, must continue to demand
accountability, justice, and full implementation of international resolutions
that uphold Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.
As the Prophet Isaiah (33:1) warned:
“Woe to you, O destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, O
traitor, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be
destroyed; when you cease betraying, you will be betrayed.”
What Must Be Done.
To ensure May 7 is never repeated, the following urgent measures must be taken:
Full disarmament of Hezbollah and all other Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian
militias operating illegally within Lebanon.
Reclaiming all territories currently run as militia-controlled “mini-states,”
including Hezbollah’s southern stronghold and armed Palestinian camps.
Immediate implementation of all relevant UN Security Council
resolutions—particularly:
Resolution 1559 (2004): Calls for the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese
and non-Lebanese militias.
Resolution 1701 (2006): Demands the cessation of hostilities and prohibits the
presence of any armed forces in South Lebanon other than the Lebanese Army and
UNIFIL.
Resolution 1680 (2006): Urges Lebanon and Syria to delineate their border and
establish full diplomatic relations.
The 1949 Armistice Agreement with Israel: Must be revived and fully enforced to
restore border stability and end militia cross-border provocations.
Declare Lebanon a failed state under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, enabling
international intervention to restore state authority and protect civilians.
Empower UNIFIL with an expanded mandate to enforce disarmament and
administrative restoration across all Lebanese territories—not only the South.
A Call to Action
All free and patriotic Lebanese—at home and abroad—must unite to rescue their
homeland from occupation, collapse, and sectarian tyranny. We must raise our
voices at the United Nations, in international forums, and in the global media
to demand an end to Hezbollah’s armed rule and the restoration of Lebanese
sovereignty.
May Almighty God protect Lebanon and its people, and may justice prevail.
Lebanon During the Truce: Over 120 Strikes in the South and
Dozens of Martyrs
Al-Modon/May 9, 2026 (Translated from Arabic)
Israel continues its aggression against Lebanon with a field escalation that has
expanded beyond the southern regions. This afternoon, Israeli aircraft carried
out a strike targeting a vehicle on the Saadiyat road, marking the first such
attack in that area since the ceasefire was announced. Less than half an hour
later, Israeli jets struck Saadiyat again, targeting another vehicle, followed
by a strike on the Multaqa al-Nahrein area in Chouf. Preliminary reports
indicate fatalities. In Saksakiyeh, Israel committed a massacre against
displaced families from Jebchit after striking a building, resulting in an
initial death toll of ten. As part of the escalation, Israeli military
spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued urgent warnings to residents in the following
towns and villages: Tair Debba, Abbassiyeh, Bourj Rahal, Maaroub, Baryah, Arzoun,
Jannata (Tyre District), Zrariyeh, and Ain Baal.
Lebanon Prepares for a New Round of Negotiations
On the political front, Lebanon is preparing for the third round of direct
Lebanese-Israeli talks under U.S. sponsorship. These meetings are scheduled to
take place at the U.S. State Department in Washington next Thursday and Friday,
ahead of the ceasefire's expiration on the 17th of this month. In this context,
President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun received Ambassador Simon Karam,
head of the Lebanese negotiating delegation for indirect talks, prior to his
departure for Washington. This move signals an official elevation of the
negotiation level, as Karam serves as the official envoy of the Presidency.
Salam: Priority is Consolidating the Ceasefire
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized that Lebanon seeks to consolidate the
ceasefire before the next round of negotiations. He noted that if Israeli
attacks continue, the first item on the agenda will be the stabilization of the
truce. Salam stressed that Beirut will raise the issues of halting Israeli
aggression, releasing prisoners, and scheduling a withdrawal timeline to allow
for the return of displaced persons and the start of reconstruction.
Washington Speaks of "Intensive" Talks
The U.S. State Department announced that Washington will facilitate "intensive"
talks between the governments of Lebanon and Israel on May 14 and 15. The move
is described as a push toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement. In a
statement, the State Department said, "Building on the April 23 round led
personally by President Trump, the two delegations will engage in detailed
discussions aimed at advancing a comprehensive peace and security agreement that
substantively addresses the core concerns of both countries."
The statement added that these talks aim to "decisively break with the failed
approach of the past two decades, which allowed terrorist groups to entrench
their influence, enrich themselves, undermine the authority of the Lebanese
state, and threaten Israel's northern border." The discussions will focus on
building a framework for lasting peace, restoring full Lebanese sovereignty over
all its territory, demarcating borders, and creating concrete paths for
humanitarian relief and reconstruction. According to the statement, the U.S.
welcomed the commitment of both governments, asserting that comprehensive peace
depends on the full restoration of Lebanese state authority and the complete
disarmament of Hezbollah, which the U.S. designates as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization.
Strikes in the South and Demolition Operations
On the ground, Israeli occupation forces escalated attacks on southern villages,
launching approximately 59 assaults, ranging from airstrikes and artillery
shelling to the demolition of homes. The bombardment resulted in the martyrdom
of 27 citizens, including a Civil Defense member, and various injuries. Strikes
centered on the Bint Jbeil and Tyre districts, targeting cars, motorcycles, and
inhabited homes. Casualties were reported in Toura (5 martyrs), Sultaniyeh (4
martyrs), and several others in Kfarchouba, Doueir, Jebchit, and Zrariyeh.
The occupation army also conducted helicopter sweeps and ground incursion
attempts on the outskirts of Bayyadah, accompanied by the detonation of entire
residential blocks in Bint Jbeil and Khiam. A "belt of fire" targeted several
villages in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts, including Al-Maaliyah, Al-Haniyeh,
Mansouri, Shaitiyah, Qlaileh, Buyut al-Sayyad, Kafra, and Sultaniyeh.
Additionally, strikes hit the Sereij area near the Eastern Lebanon Mountain
Range in Nabi Chit (Baalbek District), as well as the cemetery of Khirbet Selm
and the towns of Hadatha and Beit Yahoun. Reports indicated injuries in the
Hadatha strike, while a new wave of displacement toward Sidon was recorded as
warplanes continued to fly overhead and carry out mock raids over Tyre.
Hezbollah Announces Targeting of Shraga Base
In response, Hezbollah announced a rocket attack targeting the Shraga military
base—the administrative headquarters of the Golani Brigade—located between
Nahariya and Acre. The group stated the attack was carried out with "quality
missiles" in retaliation for the targeting of Beirut's Southern Suburbs two days
ago and the continuous violations of the truce.
The Shraga base represents the furthest target the group has claimed to attack
in this phase, located about 15 kilometers from the Lebanese border. The attack
triggered sirens in the Haifa Bay area, Nahariya, and Acre for the first time in
weeks. The Israeli military acknowledged detecting three rockets launched from
Lebanon, claiming one was intercepted while two landed in open areas with no
reported casualties. This coincided with Hezbollah's announcement of nine other
operations targeting bulldozers, vehicles, and troop gatherings in Bayyadah,
Deir Syrian, Rachaf, Khiam, and Bint Jbeil, claiming to have forced an Israeli
unit to retreat on the outskirts of Hadatha.
May 6 Martyrs' Day: Assassinating Memory
to Flatter the New Ottoman-Erdoganist "Sublime Porte"
Elias Bejjani/May 06/ 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/154243/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKvtNSaJ2c0&t=2s
On the day the gallows were erected
in Beirut’s Martyrs' Square (Place des Canons) and Damascus’s Marjeh Square,
over 120 writers, intellectuals, and free freedom fighters were executed in two
waves. They were the defiant voices against 400 years of Ottoman occupation. By
order of the butcher, Jamal Pasha, these executions in Beirut and Damascus were
synchronized to silence the spirit of resistance. In Lebanon, this commemoration
was abolished during the government of Prime Minister Siniora. Today, in Syria,
under the transitional president, it has also been scrapped. Erasing Lebanon’s
memory is an integral part of obliterating its identity, history, civilization,
and the rights of its diverse peoples. The same applies to the diverse social
fabric of Syria.
May 6: When Memory is Assassinated for Political Sycophancy
As May 6, 2026, passes—burdened by the 110-year-old wounds of the gallows set by
Jamal Pasha—we face a surreal scene that transcends physical execution to the
moral genocide of historical memory. What we are witnessing in Lebanon and Syria
today is not a mere "calendar adjustment," but a systematic forgery of history.
It aims to wipe away the blood of free martyrs with the rag of "political
flattery" toward rising Turkish influence and its Muslim Brotherhood tools.
The Lebanese Forgery: From "Martyrs' Day" to "Press Day"
The conspiracy against memory in Lebanon began under the Siniora government,
where the sanctity of this day was bypassed. It was downgraded from a "Day for
Martyrs" who confronted four centuries of loathsome Ottoman occupation to a mere
"Press Martyrs' Day." This distortion was no accident; it was a stab in the back
of Lebanese identity and blatant sycophancy toward the Turkish-Brotherhood and
Arafatist-Arabist axis. Limiting the commemoration to the press is an attempt to
belittle the struggle of an entire nation and a deliberate oversight of the fact
that those hanged were poets, thinkers, and national leaders whose only crime
was demanding dignity in the face of the "Sick Man of Europe."
Syria: Falling into the Trap of "Erdoganist Flattery"
The scene in Syria is no different. With Ahmed al-Sharaa’s rise to power, we see
a repetition of the Lebanese scenario through the abolition of the holiday. This
move confirms that the political decision in Damascus has become a hostage to
Turkish influence. The Syrian people are being forced to forget the atrocities
of Jamal Pasha so as not to disturb the relations with Ankara's new "Sultan,"
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Pillars of the Historical Crime
The Erasure of Identity: Abolishing Martyrs' Day is part of a broader scheme to
erase the civilizational and pluralistic identity of Lebanon and Syria,
replacing it with a subservient identity revolving around a "Neo-Caliphate."
Falsification of Facts: In 1916, gallows were set for over 120 free activists.
Transforming this supreme sacrifice into a single professional category (the
press) is a forgery of history, which documents that their martyrdom was a
comprehensive cry for national independence.
Political Dependency: The abolition of this day in both countries proves that
successive governments prefer pleasing foreign powers over remaining loyal to
the blood of those who paved the way for independence.
A Cry for Historical Justice
Today, on the 110th anniversary (1916–2026), we demand:
Restoring May 6 as a comprehensive national holiday for all martyrs of freedom
executed by the Ottoman occupation, not a restricted "professional day."Designating a separate day for Press Martyrs to honor their role without
compromising the greater national memory.
Rejecting all forms of flattery toward Turkish influence or Brotherhood
ideologies that attempt to whitewash the history of Ottoman crimes in our lands.
In summary, A nation that forgets its martyrs is a nation without a future.
Those who erase the memory of Martyrs' Square and Marjeh Square are merely
paving the way for new gallows of dependency and subjugation."
May 6, 2026: Our squares will remain witnesses, and "Jamal Pasha" will remain a
criminal in the records of history, no matter how hard the sycophants try to
bleach his record.
The Stages of the Crime: Abolishing Martyrs’ Day to Maliciously Alter Collective
Memory and Erase the Legacy of Resistance Against Ottoman Occupation.
Martyrs' Day (May 6) has undergone several amendments in the official Lebanese
calendar, most notably during the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora:
Date of Abolition: Martyrs' Day was abolished as a public holiday and a unifying
national day in 2005, during the term of President Emile Lahoud and the first
government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
The Substitution: The official symbolism of this day was shifted from "Martyrs'
Day"—which commemorates the patriots executed by Jamal Pasha in 1916—to "Press
Martyrs' Day." Consequently, the observance became restricted to the Press and
Editors’ Syndicates, with work only halting in newspapers, rather than remaining
a comprehensive national holiday for the entire state.
Historical Background: May 6 had been an official holiday since its inception but was first abolished
in 1977 during the Lebanese Civil War. It was reinstated as an official national holiday in 1994.The Siniora government’s 2005 decision revoked its "public holiday" status once
again, confining it to a professional syndicate framework under the title of
"Press Martyrs."This calculated move aims to distort the collective memory associated with the
struggle against Ottoman occupation by narrowing its scope to a specific
professional group
Israeli drone strikes kill 4 in Lebanon, southern
airstrikes kill at least 13
AP/May 09, 2026
BEIRUT: Three Israeli drone strikes on vehicles just south of Beirut on Saturday
killed four people while a series of airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at
least 13, including a man and his 12-year-old daughter, state media and the
Health Ministry said.
The three drone strikes south of Beirut marked another escalation since a
ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on April 17. Both Israel
and Hezbollah have continued their daily attacks despite the truce. On Wednesday
night, Israel’s air force carried out an airstrike on a southern suburb in which
Israel said it killed a senior Hezbollah military official. It was the first
strike near the capital since the ceasefire was reached. Two of the strikes on
Saturday took place on the highway linking Beirut with the southern port city of
Sidon in which several people were wounded, while the third happened on a road
leading to Lebanon’s Chouf region killing three, the state-run National News
Agency said. An Associated Press journalist at the scene saw a dead body on the
highway in the town of Saadiyat. The Health Ministry said an Israeli airstrike
on the southern village of Saksakiyeh killed at least seven, including a child,
and wounded 15. The ministry said this was an initial count. The agency reported
strikes in southern Lebanon, including one on the village of Bourj Rahhal that
killed three and another in Maifadoun that killed one.
The Health Ministry, meanwhile, said three Israeli drone strikes killed a Syrian
man who was riding a motorcycle with his 12-year-old daughter in the city of
Nabatiyeh. The ministry said that after the initial strike, the man and his
daughter managed to move away from the site only to be attacked again by the
drone instantly killing the man. The girl then moved about 100 meters (yards)
away and was hit again by the drone after she had been already wounded. The girl
later died in a hospital, NNA said.
“The Ministry of Public Health denounces this barbaric targeting and the
deliberate violence against civilians and children in Lebanon,” the ministry
said in its statement added that the strike marks an ongoing series “of grave
violations of International Humanitarian Law.”
The Israeli military said Hezbollah fired explosive drones into Israel near the
border with Lebanon adding that three soldiers were wounded, one of them
seriously, in one of the attacks. It added that Hezbollah fired drones inside
Lebanon as well in which one hit an Israeli vehicle without inflicting
casualties. Hezbollah claimed several attacks inside Lebanon as well as firing a
drone at an Israeli military post in the northern town of Misgav Am.
The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, when Hezbollah
fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after the United States and Israel
launched a war on Hezbollah’s main backer, Iran. Israel has since carried out
hundreds of airstrikes and launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon,
capturing dozens of towns and villages along the border.Later, Lebanon and
Israel held their first direct talks in more than three decades. The two
countries have formally been in a state of war since the founding of the state
of Israel in 1948.
A new round of talks is scheduled to take place in Washington over two days
starting Thursday. A 10-day ceasefire declared in Washington went into effect on
April 17. The ceasefire was later extended by three weeks. In the Syrian capital
of Damascus, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held talks Saturday with
Syria’s interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in which they discussed strengthening
relations between the two neighbors and boosting security cooperation amid
regional wars. Speaking to reporters before heading back home, Salam said that
Lebanon will not be used again to harm “our Arab brothers, on top of them
Syria.” Salam was indirectly referring to Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria’s
civil that broke out in 2011 by backing the five-decade Assad family rule that
ended in December 2024.
EU Official Urges Increased Humanitarian Access in South Lebanon
Asharq Al Awsat/9 May 2026
European Union crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib on Saturday urged increased
humanitarian access in south Lebanon, where Israel has kept up strikes and
Hezbollah has been launching attacks despite a ceasefire. "Humanitarian aid is
ready, but too often it cannot reach those who need it most," Lahbib told a news
conference on the second day of her visit to Lebanon, ahead of an expected EU
aid delivery. A ceasefire came into effect on April 17 but Israel has kept up
strikes. Its troops are operating inside an Israeli-announced "yellow line" that
runs around 10 kilometres (six miles) deep inside Lebanon along the border,
where Lebanese have been warned not to return. Under the terms of the ceasefire,
Israel reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".
With both sides trading accusations of truce violations, the Iran-backed
Hezbollah has also announced attacks, mainly on Israeli targets in south
Lebanon. "South of the Litani River, access is still severely restricted due to
evacuation orders and Israeli military activity. And this includes 55 villages
below the so-called yellow line," Lahbib said.
The Litani River runs around 30 kilometres from the border, an area where many
of the attacks since the ceasefire have taken place. She noted that key
infrastructure including bridges over the Litani have been destroyed, "and that
means longer routes, people waiting days and days for help". "Even north of the
Litani River, where some of these constraints have eased, it is still not
enough. We need humanitarian access in full respect of international
humanitarian law. Aid cannot save lives if it cannot reach people," she said.
Lahbib said that since the start of the war, the European Union had announced
some 100 million euros in new humanitarian support for Lebanon and had sent six
planes carrying aid, with a seventh due to arrive in the coming days.
Authorities say more than 2,750 people have been killed since March 2, including
at least 104 health and emergency workers, with Israeli strikes having killed
dozens since the ceasefire. More than one million people have been displaced.
"Hospitals and ambulances targeted and journalists attacked for simply doing
their job -- there is no justification for this. International humanitarian law
must be respected," Lahbib said. "This crisis is not over, so all support for
the Lebanese people must continue," she said.
Hezbollah launches missiles, drones at north Israel in
response to Dahieh strike
Agence France Presse/09 May ,2026
Hezbollah said it launched missiles and drones at military bases in Israel in
retaliation for a recent attack on Beirut's southern suburbs and ongoing strikes
in the south, where Lebanese authorities reported 11 people killed on Friday.
Israel has kept up its attacks in Lebanon despite a truce agreed last month, and
its strike on the capital's southern suburbs on Wednesday -- its first there in
nearly a month -- killed a senior Hezbollah commander. In a statement, Hezbollah
said a salvo of missiles targeted a base south of the Israeli city of Nahariya
"in response to the Israeli enemy's violation of the ceasefire, the targeting of
Beirut's southern suburbs and the attacks that affected villages and civilians
in southern Lebanon."Hours later, the Iran-backed group announced it had
launched a swarm of drones at another base in northern Israel, saying they too
were in response to the Israeli attacks. Air raid sirens had sounded in several
cities in Israel's north during the first attack, according to the Israeli
military, though it did not immediately comment on the second. After the first
wave, the military said it "intercepted one launch, and the additional launches
fell in open areas", adding that no injuries were reported. The Lebanese health
ministry said Israeli strikes in four parts of the south killed 10 people on
Friday, including two children and three women. Lebanon's civil defense had said
earlier that one of its members was also killed in an Israeli attack on the
south. The Israeli military said that one of its strikes in the south had hit a
member of the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese Resistance Brigades, saying he had
also "operated as a rescue worker".The Israeli military had issued evacuation
warnings for seven southern Lebanese towns, including Toura. Lebanon's state-run
National News Agency also reported strikes near Nabi Sheet in the east.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, claimed several attacks on Israeli troops in southern
Lebanon. The terms of the ceasefire announced by the U.S. State Department allow
Israel to act against "imminent or ongoing attacks."
Upcoming talks -
The latest attacks came as Lebanon and Israel, officially at war since 1948,
were set to hold direct negotiations in Washington next week. President Joseph
Aoun met with delegation chief Simon Karam on Friday ahead of his departure to
the U.S., giving him "directives outlining Lebanon's firm positions regarding
the negotiations". Lebanon and Israel's U.S. ambassadors had previously met
twice in Washington over the past weeks, in an attempt to end the war that
started when Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East conflict on March 2.
Hezbollah is strongly opposed to the direct talks, calling them a "sin" and
urging Beirut to withdraw. Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,750 people in
Lebanon since March 2, including dozens since the ceasefire was announced. EU
crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib told reporters in Beirut that since the
start of the war on March 2, the 27-member bloc has provided 100 million euros
in aid and sent six planes carrying humanitarian aid, with a seventh expected on
Saturday.
Israeli strike kills seven in south Lebanon as Hezbollah
targets northern Israel
AFP/09 May ,2026
Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli strike on the southern town of
Saksakiyeh killed at least seven people, including a girl, in the latest attack
during a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a statement, the ministry
said that “the Israeli enemy raid on the town of Saksakiyeh, in the Sidon
district, resulted in an initial toll of seven martyrs, including a girl, and 15
wounded, including three children.”Lebanese official media reported a new
Israeli strike outside Beirut on Saturday, moments after it reported two strikes
on the highway linking the capital to the country’s south. The state-run
National News Agency said the strike hit the Chouf district, around 20
kilometers (12 miles) south of Beirut and not far from a previous strike on the
Saadiyat highway. Previously, it reported two strikes south of Beirut on
Saturday, despite a three-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. “The
Israeli enemy launched two strikes on the Saadiyat highway,” the state-run
National News Agency said, referring to a location around 20 kilometers (12
miles) south of Beirut and outside Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds. An AFP
correspondent saw two stricken cars and emergency workers in attendance along
the highway, which links Beirut with the country’s south. Lebanon said at least
one person was killed in Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Saturday
despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah, after Israel’s army issued an evacuation
warning to several villages.Shortly after, Hezbollah announced that it targeted
northern Israel with a drone. In a statement, the group said that it “targeted a
gathering of Israeli enemy army soldiers near Misgav Am” with a drone in
response to “the Israeli enemy's violation of the ceasefire.”
Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah have traded fire daily, mostly in
southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire agreement in effect since April 17.
Israel’s military had called on residents of nine villages to evacuate, warning
that it would act “forcefully” against Hezbollah after its “violation of the
ceasefire agreement.” Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Israeli
warplanes “launched a strike on the town of Zrariyeh” and several other areas
included in the notice. It reported casualties in a strike on a car on a road
between two of the locations, and said Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling
hit other areas of the south not mentioned in the warning.The health ministry
said an Israeli strike on a motorbike in the town of Nabatieh outside the
evacuation areas hit “a Syrian national and his 12-year-old daughter.”“After
they managed to move away from the site of the first strike, the drone attacked
a second time,” killing the father, the ministry said, while the drone then
targeted the girl “directly for a third time,” adding that she was undergoing
life-saving surgery. It slammed a “barbaric” attack and “deliberate violence
against civilians and children.”
‘Barbaric’
Under the terms of the ceasefire released by Washington, Israel reserves the
right to act against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.”Israeli troops are
also operating inside an Israeli-announced “yellow line,” running around 10
kilometers (six miles) deep inside Lebanon along the border, where Lebanese have
been warned not to return. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Saturday
warned of “a new phase, in which the resistance (Hezbollah) will not accept a
return to pre-March 2.”Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East conflict on
March 2 with rocket fire at Israel to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.“When it attacks our
villages and suburbs, the enemy must expect a response, and this is what the
resistance is doing,” Fadlallah said, alluding to an Israeli attack this week on
Beirut’s southern suburbs that it said targeted a Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah
said on Friday that it launched missiles and drones at military bases in Israel
in retaliation for that attack and ongoing strikes in the south.It also
announced attacks on Israeli military targets inside Lebanon on Saturday.
‘Whatever the cost’
After a 2024 ceasefire that followed a previous war between Israel and
Hezbollah, Israel kept up strikes on Lebanon, while the Iran-backed group
refrained from firing back. “Whatever the cost or the challenges, the resistance
will not allow a return to the previous phase,” Fadlallah said.
He also said direct talks with Israel amounted to a “path of concessions,”
reiterating his party’s call for the government to withdraw in favour of
indirect talks. Lebanese and Israeli representatives are set to hold a third
round of direct talks in Washington next week. The first meeting was held days
before US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in Lebanon, and the
second round as he announced a three-week extension of the truce. Earlier
Saturday, Israel’s military said it had struck more than 85 Hezbollah
infrastructure sites “from the air and on the ground” in the past 24 hours,
including weapon storage facilities and launchers. It also said it had struck an
underground Hezbollah weapons production site in east Lebanon’s Bekaa valley, as
well as militants who were “advancing terrorist activities against IDF soldiers
operating in southern Lebanon.”
Syrian girl, 12, and her father killed in south Lebanon by 3
Israeli missiles
Bassam Zaazaa/Arab News/May 09, 2026
BEIRUT: A 12-year-old Syrian girl succumbed to her injuries shortly after her
father died in south Lebanon on Saturday after an Israeli drone targeted them
with three consecutive missiles. The two were reported to have been on a
motorcycle in Al-Nabatieh region when an Israeli drone chased them and fired the
first missile, which they survived, a Lebanese official is cited as telling
local media. The drone fired a second missile, killing the father, while the
daughter ran around 100 meters away from the motorcycle before the drone fired
at her again. The country’s health ministry issued a statement confirming the
three-missile attack and said the girl had been hit by the second strike but
managed to get away initially. She was rushed to Al-Nabatieh’s Nabih Berri
Governmental University Hospital but later succumbed to her injuries, the
National News Agency reported on Saturday afternoon. “She [the girl] was brought
to our hospital, but I cannot give you any further information,” a nurse told
Arab News. No further details could be obtained from either the hospital or the
Lebanese Civil Defense despite repeated calls. A Lebanese Civil Defense official
was quoted as saying the father and daughter were collecting supplies near
Al-Sabah Al-Jadida Secondary School when they were targeted at around 10.30am.
According to the health ministry, the girl underwent an urgent operation before
she died. “The Ministry of Health condemns the barbaric targeting and deliberate
violence against civilians and children in Lebanon, in an ongoing series of
serious violations of international humanitarian law,” said a statement. On
Saturday morning, an Israeli aircraft struck a car near the Mohammed Saad High
School between the villages of Burj Rahal and Al-Abbasiyeh, in the Tyre region,
killing three people. The Times of Israel said the Israeli Defense Forces were
looking into the matter.
Israeli army issues evacuation warning for nine south
Lebanon villages
Agence France Presse/09 May ,2026
The Israeli military called on residents of more than half a dozen villages in
southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate on Saturday ahead of expected attacks
against alleged Hezbollah targets despite a truce with Lebanon intended to halt
the fighting. "In light of ... Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement,
the IDF (Israeli army) is compelled to act against it forcefully," the
military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X, listing nine
villages. "For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and stay
away from the villages and towns by a distance of no less than 1,000 meters to
open areas," he added. Despite the ceasefire agreement in effect since
mid-April, Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah have traded fire daily,
mostly in southern Lebanon. In an earlier statement, the Israeli military said
it had struck more than 85 Hezbollah infrastructure sites "from the air and on
the ground" in the past 24 hours. It said these included weapon storage
facilities, launchers, and structures used by Hezbollah "to advance terrorist
activities against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers".The Israeli military also
said it had struck an underground Hezbollah weapons production site in the Beqaa
valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as militants who were "advancing terrorist
activities against IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon". On Friday,
Hezbollah said it launched missiles and drones at military bases in Israel in
retaliation for a recent attack on Beirut and ongoing strikes in the south.
Lebanese authorities reported 11 people killed in Israeli strikes on the south
on Friday.
Hezbollah says targeted troops in northern Israel with
drone
LBCI/09 May ,2026
Hezbollah on Saturday said it targeted northern Israel with a drone in response
to repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon despite an ongoing truce between the two
sides. In a statement, the group said that it "targeted a gathering of Israeli
enemy army soldiers near Misgav Am" with a drone in response to "the Israeli
enemy’s violation of the ceasefire".AFP
Israeli army says it struck Hezbollah weapons sites and
drone launch platforms in southern
LBCI/09 May ,2026
Israeli army spokesperson Ella Waweya said the Israeli military continues to
operate “to remove threats to the citizens of the State of Israel and Israeli
army forces in southern Lebanon.”She said the Israeli army recently carried out
airstrikes on weapons storage facilities and a drone launch platform allegedly
used by Hezbollah to launch drones toward Israeli forces operating in southern
Lebanon. She added that earlier on Saturday, the Israeli army also struck two
prepared launch platforms in southern Lebanon. According to her statement, one
of the platforms had previously been used to fire at Israeli forces operating in
southern Lebanon, while the other had been used to launch rockets toward Israel.
PM Salam in Damascus: Progress on key Lebanon-Syria issues
and agreement to deepen cooperation across security, economy and borders
LBCI/09 May ,2026
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said after meeting Syrian President Ahmed
al-Sharaa in Damascus that the visit marked significant progress in addressing
pending issues between the two countries and strengthening bilateral relations
based on mutual respect, sovereignty and shared interests. Salam said he and the
accompanying Lebanese delegation held expanded talks with Syrian officials
following a meeting with Sharaa, thanking the Syrian president for the warm
welcome and hospitality. He said the visit aimed not only to follow up on
previous discussions over the past year, but also to launch new joint
initiatives and reinforce state-to-state cooperation across all sectors,
stressing that stronger official ties would encourage wider economic, social and
cultural cooperation between the two countries. Salam said discussions focused
on regional developments and challenges facing both Lebanon and Syria, with both
sides agreeing on the importance of continued consultation. The two sides also
discussed implementing the agreement on transferring convicted Syrian prisoners
from Lebanese prisons to Syria, addressing the issue of detained Syrians, and
uncovering the fate of missing and forcibly disappeared persons in both
countries. Salam said both countries stressed the need for stricter border
control measures and combating smuggling in all forms, in addition to improving
border crossings and facilitating the movement of people and goods. He added
that talks also covered continued coordination to facilitate the safe and
dignified return of Syrian refugees and regulate Syrian labor in Lebanon. The
discussions included transportation and infrastructure issues, including trucks,
public transport, taxis, railway links, border crossings and bridges. Salam said
both sides reviewed urgent needs related to reopening and operating border
bridges and addressing inspection and customs procedures that have disrupted
trade flows. The Lebanese prime minister said discussions also tackled export
and transit fees, with both sides agreeing to strengthen cooperation on
standards, technical specifications and laboratory testing, while expanding
bilateral economic and trade ties, including preferential trade and investment
opportunities. Salam announced plans to accelerate the launch of a joint
Lebanese-Syrian business council, with a meeting expected to be held in Damascus
in the coming weeks. He also said talks addressed improving electricity
interconnection to facilitate Lebanon’s import of electricity through Syria, as
well as a natural gas transit agreement, with efforts underway to move forward
on both issues as soon as possible. Salam concluded by saying Lebanon and Syria
would continue political consultations and expand cooperation through joint
technical committees and increased ministerial-level coordination.
Syria president discusses security with visiting Lebanon PM
SANA/AFP/09 May 2026
DAMASCUS: Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa met Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam in Damascus on Saturday during a visit to tackle issues including
security, transport, and energy. Beirut and Damascus have been rebuilding their
ties after the December 2024 overthrow of Bashar Assad in Syria, whose family
dynasty exercised control over Lebanese affairs for decades and is accused of
assassinating numerous officials in Lebanon who expressed opposition to its
rule.A statement from the Syrian presidency said the officials discussed
“developing economic and trade cooperation ... and bolstering security
coordination in order to support stability and confront challenges,” as well as
regional and international developments. We will not allow Lebanon to be used as
a platform to harm any of its Arab brothers, including Syria.
Nawaf Salam, Prime minister of Lebanon
Syrian state news agency SANA said the visit aimed to “develop joint cooperation
... particularly the economy, transportation and energy” sectors. Salam was
accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri and Lebanese ministers of
energy, economy, and transport.
Salam hailed “significant progress” on joint issues at the end of the visit,
telling reporters that “we discussed continuing efforts to address the issue of
detained Syrians in Lebanon and to uncover the fate of the missing and forcibly
detained in both countries.”In March, Lebanon transferred more than 130 Syrian
convicts to their home country to serve the remainder of their sentences there,
as part of an agreement signed a month earlier. Lebanon has also been seeking
information on political assassinations in the country under the Assad dynasty.
The discussions also addressed “the need for stricter Syria-Lebanon border
controls and preventing all types of smuggling,” Salam added. Lebanon and Syria
share a porous, 330-km border notorious for the smuggling of people and goods.
Last month, the main border crossing was closed for several days due to an
Israeli threat to target it, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of using the
crossing for military purposes and smuggling, though it ultimately did not carry
out the strike. Israel and Hezbollah have been fighting since the group drew
Lebanon into the Middle East war with rocket fire at Israel on March 2, though a
ceasefire was announced last month. Syria’s new authorities are hostile to
Hezbollah and have announced the arrest of alleged Hezbollah-affiliated cells in
recent months.
Salam said that “we will not allow Lebanon to be used as a platform to harm any
of its Arab brothers, including Syria.”
30 truck Caritas Lebanon aid convoy reaches border towns,
returns safely to Beirut
LBCI/09 May ,2026
Caritas Lebanon announced that a humanitarian convoy of 30 trucks loaded with
food and essential supplies successfully reached the border towns of Ain Ebel,
Debl and Rmeish on Friday, despite security obstacles and difficult conditions.
The convoy, which departed on May 7 and arrived a day later, was accompanied by
Maronite Patriarch representative Bishop Charbel Abdallah, Caritas Lebanon
president Father Samir Ghawi and Vatican Embassy secretary Father Jakub
Tomaszewski. Caritas said the convoy faced shelling on the road during its
return to Beirut on Saturday, forcing the team to temporarily head to the Irish
UNIFIL base for safety. The convoy later returned safely to Beirut after the
road reopened. The organization said the aid convoys remain the only way to
deliver essential supplies to residents of the border towns amid disrupted
access routes and reaffirmed its support for people in southern Lebanon.
France loses influence in Lebanon, as Washington takes center
stage on Hezbollah disarmament
Laura Hülsemann/Now Lebanon/May 09/2026
France has historically held major influence over Lebanon. In Beirut, criticism
arises of France’s failure to support Lebanon’s sovereignty, particularly on the
question of disarming Hezbollah. Paris is also increasingly losing power as
negotiations over Lebanon’s future shift to Washington under the U.S. President
Donald Trump.
Dismantling Hezbollah’s armed wing is Lebanon’s central political challenge. The
militia has dragged the country into another war, causing displacement and
destruction. One concern raised internally and internationally regarding
disarming the militia is the risk of a civil war. France’s Defense Minister
Catherine Vautrin reinforced this rhetoric last week, saying that Lebanon is at
the brink of civil war. However, this claim is widely debated inside Lebanon.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called the threat of civil war “unacceptable”, as
it is often raised by Hezbollah amid their objections to giving up its arms.
NOW spoke to experts and politicians who criticize Paris for not acting strongly
against Hezbollah’s influence inside Lebanon. This comes amid a shifting
regional and international balance of power, in which France has largely been
sidelined.
France’s approach toward Hezbollah
French President Emmanuel Macron and the Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot have
verbally opposed Hezbollah, Michel Helou, Secretary-General of the National
Bloc, said. France has supported Lebanon’s decision to ban Hezbollah’s military
wing and also stands behind Lebanon’s efforts to disarm the militia. “But the
problem is that it’s not being translated into action,” Helou said. To help
Lebanon regain control over its own territory, France “should be fighting
Hezbollah in a much more aggressive way”, he argued.
At the moment, France is distinguishing between Hezbollah’s banned military wing
and the political wing. To Helou, this is a major problem. Its political arm
works as window dressing for the military wing, and cannot be separated from it,
he said. “This strategy is not useful for Lebanon, we need to have a maximum
pressure strategy against Hezbollah and Iran.”
“This strategy is not useful for Lebanon, we need to have a maximum pressure
strategy against Hezbollah and Iran.”
France, as a democratic state, should be supporting institution-building, Maya
Khadra, French-Lebanese journalist based in Paris, told NOW. But Hezbollah’s
military wing is essentially an anti-institutional entity, which exerts control
over Lebanese politics. France has for too long “played the card of appeasement
or containment of the arms, whereas in Lebanon today we need to confront the
weapons”, Khadra said.
Another issue, Khadra argued, is that “France is frightened of terror attacks”.
In mid-April, two French UNIFIL soldiers were attacked near Ghandourieh in
Lebanon — Macron suggested that Hezbollah was responsible for the attack and
demanded the arrest of those responsible. After the attacks, Salam traveled to
Paris. During a meeting with Macron, they discussed Lebanon’s territorial
integrity amid Israeli presence in southern Lebanon as well as the question of
Hezbollah’s disarmament. Macron promised humanitarian aid and also asked Salam
and President Joseph Aoun to ensure the security of UNIFIL troops.
It is not the first time France has come under attack by Iran and its proxies.
During Lebanon’s civil war, a suicide truck bomb killed 58 French soldiers and
Lebanese civilians in the Beirut-based Drakkar building. In 1986, Paris suffered
two bombing attacks carried out by Hezbollah commanders trained by the IRGC. The
recent attack on French UNIFIL soldiers has again put France at odds with
Hezbollah, but Paris has yet to significantly step up its response.
Paris is losing power as the U.S. moves to the forefront
France’s relationship with Lebanon is rooted in its mandate period after World
War I until Lebanon’s independence in 1943. “France is eager to play a key role
in Lebanon, as it seeks to keep its political and historical power,” said Khadra.
But Paris’ approach is static — “it is outdated, because Lebanon is in another
regional dynamic”, she added.
Washington now leads the talks between Israel and Lebanon — a historic step
between the two countries which have long been at odds with each other. The U.S.
has brokered a temporary yet fragile ceasefire and a three-week extension.
“They want a seat at the table, even if it means being less aggressive on
Hezbollah.”
In recent weeks, France has positioned itself as an alternative to the U.S.,
which fully opposes Iran’s influence in Lebanon. “Paris wants to differentiate
itself from the U.S. and find this third way between Tehran and Washington”,
said Helou. “They want a seat at the table, even if it means being less
aggressive on Hezbollah.”
U.S. President Donald Trump wants to decrease Iran’s influence in the world —
which also means dismantling Hezbollah’s arms and its control over the Lebanese
state. “Now the Lebanese government is closer to Washington than to Paris,”
argued Khadra. France, however, “does not want to learn the new diplomatic
pragmatic vocabulary of today”.
The U.S. and Europe have experienced diplomatic tensions in recent years —
driven by Washington’s hesitancy to support Ukraine, Trump’s territorial
ambitions in Greenland, tariff policies targeting European manufacturers, and
reluctance toward NATO. The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has further widened
the rift. European countries have faced economic fallout from rising oil prices
amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has also urged European navies
to help secure the strait.
“Sometimes France’s disagreements with the U.S. are playing out in the Middle
East,” said Helou. From a European perspective, this might make sense. “But this
is not what matters for us Lebanese — we need a strong stance against Iran and
Hezbollah”, he argued. Instead, “France is defending its interests more than
Lebanese interests” — with Lebanon paying the price for French decisions.
Lebanon’s Negotiating Path, Conditions and Obstacles'
Dr. Nassif Hitti/Asharq Al-Awsat/May 09/2026
The Israeli war on Lebanon has entered its third month. The “pretext” for this
war was, of course, a response to Hezbollah’s strategy of “unity of arenas,” or
“unity of tracks,” which the group pursued first in the name of solidarity with
Gaza, and then in solidarity with Iran after the assassination of Supreme Leader
Ali Khamenei.
That does not mean, of course, that Israel is not an enemy state, or that
Lebanon is not “in a state of war with it.” The 1949 Armistice Agreement is
supposed to regulate the situation between the two countries in the absence of
peace.
The strategy we have referred to brought down the calm that had prevailed since
2006, except for a few incidents that were quickly contained. That calm was
reinforced by a de facto understanding on the ground between the two sides of
the conflict, within the framework of the role played by UNIFIL, the United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, whose mandate is due to end at the close of
this year. This raises the question of what international force or mechanism
should replace the UN peacekeeping force in the not-too-distant future.
Such a force remains more than necessary, given the current realities on the
ground, as well as what is to come, amid indicators that do little to encourage
optimism about a fundamental shift in the course of the conflict. Lebanon’s
official position has been to uphold the diplomatic option, meaning negotiations
as a realistic path out of the current situation, which will be destructive for
Lebanon, both as a state and a society, if it continues as it is.
US sponsorship of the upcoming negotiations is, of course, necessary. We hope it
will not remain the only sponsorship, as Washington currently insists, but will
include other countries with weight and influence in the region and
internationally, countries capable of providing the support, sponsorship and
necessary follow-up once negotiations actually begin. The US approach began with
an attempt to impose basic principles and practical, realistic rules on the
negotiations. But negotiations do not begin, as Washington tried to suggest,
with a call for a trilateral American, Lebanese and Israeli summit.Lebanon
rejected that call entirely, considering that summits of this kind do not come
at the beginning of negotiations in conflicts of this nature. Rather,
negotiations begin by focusing on the causes of the dispute and working to find
solutions and settlements for them.Ignoring or marginalizing the various causes
of the conflict, dealing with them lightly, oversimplifying them, or attempting
to bypass them by speaking, as we have heard from more than one US official,
about beginning with peace and addressing the causes of the conflict afterward,
is like putting the cart before the horse.
This logic is far removed from realism when compared with the experiences of
peacemaking between warring nations and the paths usually followed by processes
of this kind. Netanyahu needs such a summit for electoral reasons. This is
happening as Israel works to establish and consolidate the yellow line to create
a buffer zone, or security belt.
The total destruction of a large number of villages within this strip is aimed
at preventing residents from returning to them and at establishing full control
over them. It is a security belt that reaches up to 12 kilometers wide along the
Lebanese border. Add to this what Israel describes as retaining a form of
security sovereignty over the area south of the Litani River, by keeping the
right to monitor, wage war, intervene and carry out military operations in this
area if it believes, even preemptively or preventively, that its security is at
risk.
In short, all of this amounts to a kind of legitimization of Israel’s right to
military intervention whenever it wants.
Realistic negotiations begin with the formulation of a road map based first on
halting Israeli attacks, releasing prisoners, fully withdrawing from occupied
Lebanese territory within a specific timetable, and reaching a comprehensive
security agreement before discussing any form of political agreement. Such an
agreement should be based on the 1949 Armistice Agreement, which can be
strengthened to take into account the different realities that have emerged
since that agreement, which remains legally in force.
It is natural that an agreement of this kind should be based on the
internationally recognized Lebanese-Israeli border, the border along which the
armistice line was drawn, with some disputed points that can be settled, thereby
consolidating that border.
A security agreement can be formulated on the basis of the Armistice Agreement,
with US and international guarantees to end the state of war, as long as it is
based on Lebanon’s internationally recognized borders.
The claim by some that settling the situation in south Lebanon falls within the
framework of US-Iranian negotiations is unrealistic and unacceptable. It is true
that reaching a settlement in those negotiations, if a stable and firm agreement
is reached, would undoubtedly help reduce tensions in many of the region’s hot
spots, most importantly Lebanon.
But that takes us back to the logic of understandings, even if the parties to
them change. Such understandings last only as long as the circumstances that
produced them remain in place, and they collapse when the priorities of one
party shift in the game of conflict and proxy influence. Arrangements of this
kind, as past experiences have taught us, remain temporary truces, whether short
or long, or what some call extended truces. But they do not provide stable and
lasting solutions to these conflicts.
It goes without saying that Lebanon is tired and exhausted from playing the role
of mailbox and battlefield for others. The time has come for it to move from
being the playing field to becoming a player. That is the only way to provide
stability and settle conflicts, rather than merely manage them while waiting for
them to explode again. As for peace, Lebanon’s position is clear. After reaching
the comprehensive security agreement referred to above, on the basis of the
Armistice Agreement, it would be possible to enter peace negotiations based on
the Arab Peace Initiative adopted at the Arab summit in Beirut in 2002. The
bottom line is that the priorities of the negotiating track cannot be chosen
selectively, or in a way that runs counter to the nature, structure, features
and influences of the conflict. That would be enough to lead us into a process
with no prospect of completion or success. It is a game of buying time while
waiting for further complications.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on 09-10 May/2026
US, Iran No Closer to Ending War
Asharq Al Awsat/9 May 2026
The US and Iran appeared no closer on Saturday to finding an end to their war
after the two sides traded fire in the Gulf amid a tenuous ceasefire, while a US
intelligence analysis concluded Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for
months. Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around
the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago, and the United Arab
Emirates came under renewed attack on Friday. Washington has been awaiting
Tehran's response to a US proposal that would formally end the war before talks
on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear program. Speaking in Rome
on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was expecting a response
that day, although an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said Tehran was
still weighing its response. Sporadic clashes continued on Friday between
Iranian forces and US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's semi-official
Fars news agency reported. The Tasnim news agency later cited an Iranian
military source saying the situation had calmed but warning more clashes were
possible. The US military said it struck two Iran-linked vessels attempting to
enter an Iranian port, with a US fighter jet hitting their smokestacks and
forcing them to turn back. Tehran has largely blocked non-Iranian shipping
through the strait since the war began with US-Israeli airstrikes across Iran on
February 28. Before the war, one-fifth of the world's oil supply passed through
the narrow waterway. The US imposed a blockade on Iranian vessels last month.
But a CIA assessment indicated Iran would not suffer severe economic pressure
from a US blockade of Iranian ports for about another four months, according to
a US official familiar with the matter, raising questions over President Donald
Trump's leverage over Tehran in a conflict that has been unpopular with voters
and US allies. A senior intelligence official characterized as false the
“claims” about the CIA analysis, which was first reported by the Washington
Post. Clashes extended beyond the waterway. The UAE said its air defenses
engaged with two ballistic missiles and three drones from Iran on Friday, with
three people sustaining moderate injuries. Trump said on Thursday the ceasefire,
announced on April 7, was still holding despite the flare-ups, while Iran
accused the US of breaching it. "Every time a diplomatic solution is on the
table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure," Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi said on Friday. Iran's Mehr news agency reported that one crew member
was killed, 10 wounded and six missing after a US Navy attack on an Iranian
commercial ship late on Thursday.
Trump says expecting Iran response to latest proposal
‘tonight’
Al Arabiya English/09 May ,2026
US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was expecting Iran’s response to
Washington’s latest proposal on a deal to ending the Middle East war by
“tonight.”“I’m getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we’ll see how that goes,”
Trump told reporters outside the White House. Trump did not elaborate on the
contents of the proposal. The US on Friday fired on and disabled two
Iranian-flagged tankers that it said were trying to breach the US-imposed
blockade on Iranian ports. The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on
February 28. Tehran has retaliated by attempting strikes on Israeli and American
bases in the region, in addition to targeting civilian infrastructure in
neighboring countries and blocking off the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan has acted
as a mediary between the US and Iran to put an end to the three-months-long war,
but neither side has agreed on peace proposals so far.With agencies
UK sends warship to Middle East ahead of Hormuz mission
AFP/09 May ,2026
The UK will send a destroyer to the Middle East ahead of any international
mission to help protect shipping in the key Strait of Hormuz, its defense
ministry said Saturday. “The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent
planning that will ensure that the UK is ready, as part of a multinational
coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the strait, when
conditions allow,” a ministry spokesperson told AFP. Britain and France said
last month that military plans to secure the Strait of Hormuz were coming
together and would succeed in restoring trade flows through the vital
passage.The MoD said deploying HMS Dragon would strengthen the confidence of
commercial shipping and support mine clearance efforts once hostilities end. At
a two-day meeting in London in April involving more than 44 countries, military
planners discussed the practicalities of a multinational mission led by the UK
and France to protect navigation in the key waterway. Some 40 countries are
understood to have agreed to participate in plans for the mission to free up
navigation in Hormuz. Before the US-Israel war on Iran started on February 28,
about a fifth of the world’s oil was shipped through the strait.But that has
dwindled in past months. Iran largely closed the strait, throwing global markets
into turmoil and driving up oil prices. The US later imposed its own blockade of
Iranian ports in response. On Saturday Iran questioned the seriousness of
American diplomacy to bring about a ceasefire in the wake of renewed naval
clashes in the Gulf region.In an incident on Friday, a US fighter jet fired on
and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers that Washington accused of challenging
its naval blockade of Iran’s ports. The US action prompted Iranian retaliatory
attacks. It came after a flare-up overnight Thursday to Friday in the strait,
where Iran is seeking to extract tolls from foreign vessels and wield economic
leverage over the US and its allies.
Trump says expecting Iran response to latest proposal
'tonight'
Agence France Presse/09 May ,2026
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he was expecting Iran's response to
Washington's latest proposal on a deal to ending the Middle East war by
"tonight.""I'm getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we'll see how that goes,"
Trump told reporters outside the White House.
Netanyahu mandates end of Iran nuclear program, warns
against long peace talks: Sources
Al Arabiya English/09 May ,2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the US administration that an
agreement with Iran without dismantling its nuclear program “will not be
enough,” Al Arabiya reported Saturday citing sources familiar with the matter.
It comes amid reports of disagreements between Tel Aviv and Washington over the
peace talks with Iran. The unidentified sources also reportedly indicated that
Israel has discussed potential options for further escalating its war with Iran,
including strikes on energy facilities, adding that the talks must not be
prolonged. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was
expecting Iran’s response to Washington’s latest proposal on a deal to ending
the Middle East war by “tonight.”“I’m getting a letter supposedly tonight, so
we’ll see how that goes,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.
The US on Friday fired on and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers that it said
were trying to breach the US-imposed blockade on Iranian ports. Shortly after
the outbreak of the war in February, Pakistan began acting as a mediary between
the US and Iran to put an end to the conflict, but neither side has agreed on
peace proposals so far. A fragile ceasefire however has somewhat held, although,
the UAE has recently come under Iranian strikes, as recently as Friday. Iran has
further responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The US responded to Iran’s
blockade by imposing targeted restrictions on shipping to and from Iranian
ports.
Syria president changes govt officials and ministers, replaces
brother
AFP/May 10, 2026
DAMASCUS: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa replaced several government officials
and ministers on Saturday, including his own brother, in a partial government
overhaul, state media reported. The new appointments, announced by Syria’s
official SANA news agency, include former Homs governor Abdul Rahman Badreddine
Al-Aama replacing Sharaa’s brother Maher as secretary-general for the Syrian
presidency. Information Minister Hamza Almustafa and Agriculture Minister Amjad
Badr were replaced by Khaled Fawaz Zaarour and Bassel Hafez Al-Sweidan
respectively. Zaarour was head of the media faculty at the Damascus University
before his appointment. The reasons behind the overhaul are unclear. The Syrian
transitional cabinet created in March 2025 came after the ouster of longtime
ruler Bashar Assad in 2024, and was dominated by Sharaa’s inner circle. Sharaa
also appointed new governors for several provinces including Homs, Quneitra and
Latakia and Deir Ezzor.
Bahrain arrests 41 people linked to Iran’s IRGC
Al Arabiya English/09 May ,2026
Bahrain’s interior ministry said on Saturday it had arrested 41 people it said
were linked to Iran’s IRGC, the state news agency reported. The ministry said
security authorities uncovered a group linked to the IRGC, adding that
investigations by the public prosecutor had also involved cases related to
sympathy with Iranian attacks. Iran fired at targets in Bahrain and other Gulf
states where the US has military bases after the US and Israel launched a war
against Iran on February 28.
Saudi Arabia expresses support for Bahrain over security
measures
Al Arabiya English/09 May ,2026
Saudi Arabia on Saturday expressed its support for measures taken by Bahrain to
safeguard its security and stability, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said on
Saturday. “The foreign ministry expresses the full support of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia for the measures that the brotherly Kingdom of Bahrain has taken in
the face of activities observed that aim at destabilizing the security and
stability of the brotherly Kingdom of Bahrain,” the Saudi foreign ministry said
in a statement. The statement further praised the “efficiency of the security
institutions” of Bahrain, its “vigilance” at uncovering and pursuing activities
that it said pose a threat to the national security of Bahrain. Earlier that
day, Bahrain’s interior ministry stated that it had arrested 41 people with
connections to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Since the Israeli-US war on Iran starting on February 28, civilian
infrastructure in Gulf States has repeatedly become the target of indiscriminate
Iranian missile and drone attacks. In addition, Gulf states have dismantled
local networks with connections to the IRGC aiming at destabilizing the country
they are operating in. Neighboring Qatar on March 4 announced it had dismantled
two spy cells with connections to the IRGC.
Putin: I hope the Iran-US conflict ends as soon as possible
LBCI/09 May ,2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he hopes the conflict
between the United States and Iran will end as soon as possible, warning that if
it does not, everyone will lose. Reuters
Putin says still not received any proposals from Ukraine on
POW swap
LBCI/09 May ,2026
President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia has not received any
proposals from Ukraine on a large prisoner swap announced by U.S. President
Donald Trump. "We are counting on the Ukrainian side to respond to the proposal
made by the President of the United States. Unfortunately, we still have not
received any proposals so far," Putin told reporters. AFP
Putin says Ukraine war is 'heading to an end'
LBCI/09 May ,2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday the war in Ukraine was
"heading to an end", blasting Western countries for helping Ukraine."And they
started ratcheting up the confrontation with Russia, which continues to this
day. I think it is heading to an end, but it's still a serious matter," he
responded a question on whether the Western help to Ukraine went too far. AFP
Putin says soldiers in Ukraine fighting 'aggressive force'
backed by NATO
Agence France Presse/09 May ,2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that his soldiers in Ukraine were
fighting an "aggressive force" backed by all of NATO, and that the Russian
army's cause was "just", as he addressed an annual Victory Day parade on Red
Square. "The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers
carrying out the goals of the special military operation today," Putin said in
his address, referring to the Ukraine war. "They are confronting an aggressive
force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. And despite this, our heroes
move forward," he said, adding later: "I firmly believe that our cause is just."
US declassifies UFO files showing unexplained sightings but
no evidence of extraterrestrial life
LBCI/09 May ,2026
The U.S. has declassified a new batch of files related to UFOs and UAPs,
sparking renewed public interest in unidentified aerial phenomena. The release,
issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, includes videos, images, and archival
material presented as part of a broader effort toward transparency regarding
unexplained sightings. However, officials emphasized that the material does not
confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life, but rather documents incidents
that remain unresolved or not fully identified. Some of the released videos show
objects in motion or unclear aerial activity, but experts note that such footage
could potentially be explained by drones, birds, balloons, or optical effects.
The files also revisit earlier space missions, including NASA’s Apollo 11
mission in 1969, during which astronaut Buzz Aldrin has previously recounted
seeing an unidentified light or object during the flight. NASA has not
classified such accounts as evidence of extraterrestrial encounters. U.S.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the release, under direction from President
Donald Trump, aims to increase transparency regarding the government’s
understanding of unexplained aerial phenomena. Trump has previously commented on
classified material related to unidentified objects, suggesting that past
administrations, including former President Barack Obama’s, handled such
information inconsistently. Officials stressed that the released material does
not constitute proof of alien life, but reflects ongoing efforts to document and
analyze unexplained sightings. The Pentagon said the objective is to clarify
what the government knows about such phenomena, while acknowledging that many
cases remain unresolved.
Merz says Europe wants a strong NATO and shares US goal of ending Iran war
Reuters/09 May ,2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday Europe wanted to work to keep
the NATO alliance functioning, despite differences with the United States that
the Iran war has exposed. Tensions between US President Donald Trump’s
administration and European NATO partners have raised questions about the future
of NATO.Already high after US criticism of Europe over defense spending and
issues like immigration policy, the tensions have increased after Germany and
other European countries refused to support the US and Israeli war against Iran
that began at the end of February. “We are really willing to keep this alliance
alive for the future,” Merz said at a press conference with Swedish Prime
Minister Ulf Kristersson. He also said Sweden and Finland had strengthened the
European pillar of the alliance. “We know that there are some differences. We
know that we are seeing challenges, all of us, but our final goal is to bring
this conflict to an end and to guarantee that Iran is not able to produce
nuclear weapons,” Merz said. “And this goal is a common goal between America and
Europe.”
Trump has singled out Germany
After Merz said last month Iran was “humiliating” the US, Trump hit back by
ordering 5,000 US troops to be withdrawn and cancelled the planned deployment of
long-range Tomahawk missiles.
Merz said the main issue was not troop numbers but “unity of purpose” and that
it was in the US interest to have a strong European component of NATO. “We are
remaining interested and highly interested in having the American army and the
American military support on our side,” he said. “So, this is something we are
having in common, and we are trying to achieve that currently.”After decades of
neglect, European countries, including Germany, are spending billions to rebuild
their militaries in the face of a perceived threat from Russia that Merz said in
a speech earlier on Saturday posed an imminent danger to Europe. Speaking as
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a parade in Moscow to mark the Soviet
Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, Merz said he was
disappointed Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico had reportedly decided to
attend the parade and that he would talk to Fico about “this day in Moscow.”
However, although Fico arrived to Moscow, he said he stayed away from the parade
itself.
The Latest
LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on 09-10 May/2026
Never Trust the Iranian Regime – And
NO to a 'Moratorium'
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/May 09/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/154348/
Any agreement that would allow Iran
a multi-year "moratorium" towards enriching uranium again would erase everything
that President Donald J. Trump has so brilliantly and historically accomplished.
Any "moratorium" is essentially no different from the catastrophic "sunset
clauses" in President Barack H. Obama's 2015 JCPOA "nuclear deal" – a short
delay that will correctly be taken as a green light inviting Iran to resume
enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.
Politically, such a policy would be devastating for Trump. He would immediately
be seen as the negotiating partner who desperately wanted a deal -- any deal --
just to declare victory and announce that he had "won." If there is a
"moratorium" even for 100 years, it is Iran that will have won.
Inside Iran, there are still reports of repression, restrictions on internet
access, and crackdowns on dissent complete with torture, forced confessions and
executions. Why would a government that brutalizes its own citizens treat anyone
else any better?
Any agreement that would allow Iran a multi-year "moratorium" towards enriching
uranium again would erase everything that President Donald J. Trump has so
brilliantly and historically accomplished. Any "moratorium" is essentially no
different from the catastrophic "sunset clauses" in President Barack H. Obama's
2015 JCPOA "nuclear deal" – a short delay that will correctly be taken as a
green light inviting Iran to resume enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.
The Iranian regime's core is still rooted in anti-Americanism, anti-Semitism,
and systematically controlling and destabilizing the region. None of its
defining pillars have changed. Any deal with such a system will not transform it
— just offer it enough relief to allow it to rearm before returning with renewed
strength. Although U.S. and Israeli strikes in June 2025 significantly degraded
Iran's military capabilities, the nature of Iran's regime itself -- deeply
hostile toward its neighbors, Western civilization, the United States, Israel,
other Muslims and even its own population — continues to guide its actions. As
the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) executes more people and
consolidates even greater power in the aftermath of its setbacks, it has become
even more ruthless.
The regime – what is left of it -- is not seeking peace. It is seeking continued
rule, breathing room and money. Economically strained and increasingly concerned
about internal unrest, Iran's leadership views negotiations merely as a tactical
pause.
Any agreement that would allow Iran a multi-year "moratorium" towards enriching
uranium again would erase everything that President Donald J. Trump has so
brilliantly and historically accomplished. Any "moratorium" is essentially no
different from the catastrophic "sunset clauses" in President Barack H. Obama's
2015 JCPOA "nuclear deal" – a short delay that will correctly be taken as a
green light inviting Iran to resume enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.
Politically, such a policy would be devastating for Trump. He would immediately
be seen as the negotiating partner who desperately wanted a deal -- any deal --
just to declare victory and announce that he had "won." If there is a
"moratorium" even for 100 years, it is Iran that will have won. Equally, any
agreement that would lift sanctions or allow oil revenues to flow again would
provide the regime with precisely what it needs: time to recover, rebuild
militarily, and resume brutalizing its citizens, its neighbors, the region and
the United States
As long as Iran's foundational policies — rooted in anti-Americanism and
hostility toward the West — remain intact, no deal has proven capable of
transforming its conduct. On the contrary, previous deals have enabled the
regime to strengthen its position, channel more funding and weapons to its proxy
networks, and deepen its regional influence rather than moderate it.
The regime, in addition, understands political cycles in the United States. It
can agree to terms temporarily — two or three years, if necessary — while
quietly waiting for a shift in leadership in Washington. Once that shift occurs,
it has usually felt free to abandon commitments and resume its previous
trajectory. Agreements are treated as tools of convenience, not binding
obligations.
At the same time, the regime's support for militant proxies remains intact, and
its posture toward neighboring countries is aggressive and interventionist.
Inside Iran, there are still reports of repression, restrictions on internet
access, and crackdowns on dissent complete with torture, forced confessions and
executions (here, here and here). Why would a government that brutalizes its own
citizens treat anyone else any better?
The regime also has been successfully deploying "good cop-bad cop" tactics to
buy time and keep the US at bay. The so-called moderates signal conciliation,
while hardliners resist. In reality, these factions operate within the same
system and share the same ultimate objective: the survival of the regime. The
differences are tactical, not ideological. Falling for this dynamic risks
misreading the entire structure of power in Tehran.
Meanwhile, the Iranian regime's core ideology — anti-Americanism, anti-Semitism,
and hostility toward own people as well as most others — remains unchanged. Its
military capabilities may have been weakened, but its identity and intentions
are intact. The regime is therefore likely to pursue agreements not as steps
toward peace, but as temporary, stopgap measures to regain strength, continue
enriching uranium, and outlast political pressures from the current US
leadership. In any deal, under these conditions, that risks repeating a familiar
cycle, trust is misplaced, and the regime's most valuable weapon is time.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and
board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on
the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22510/iran-regime-moratorium
**Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
This Is How Mohammed bin Salman Succeeded
Turki al-Faisal/Asharq Al-Awsat/May09/2026
Since the American-Israeli war on Iran erupted on Feb. 28, discordant voices in
our region and in Western media have grown louder, questioning Saudi Arabia’s
position on a conflict the Kingdom had initially worked hard to prevent, and
then made intensive efforts to stop and resolve diplomatically. It did so
without noise, theatrics, grandstanding, or bluster, seeking instead to pull the
region out of this bloody conflict.This has been the hallmark of the Kingdom’s
leadership since the late King Abdulaziz founded the state. The leadership has
long embraced the principle that actions matter more than words. While the flies
of social media buzzed and shouted, the Kingdom was measured, patient, and
active. While the cheerleaders beat their drums, the Kingdom managed affairs
carefully and weighed its options. The evidence is before us.
When Iran and others tried to drag the Kingdom into the furnace of destruction,
our leadership chose to endure the injustice of a neighbor in order to protect
the lives and property of its citizens. Had the Kingdom wanted, and it is
capable of doing so, to respond in kind to Iran by destroying Iranian facilities
and interests, the outcome could have been the destruction of Saudi oil
facilities and desalination plants along the Arabian Gulf coast, and even deep
inside the Kingdom.
Had the Israeli plan to ignite war between us and Iran succeeded, the region
would have been plunged into ruin and destruction. Thousands of our sons and
daughters would have been lost in a battle in which we had no stake. Israel
would have succeeded in imposing its will on the region and remained the only
actor in our surroundings. Through the wisdom and foresight of Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom avoided the horrors of war and its devastating
repercussions. Indeed, together with Pakistan, it is now extinguishing the fire
of fighting, helping prevent escalation, and giving advocates of peace hope that
they can feel reassured about the lives of their loved ones and the safety of
their interests. As for the advocates of war, they continue in their arrogance
and cawing, perhaps unaware that the ground has shifted beneath their feet.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not allow Iran to divide the brotherly Gulf
states. He supported and stood in solidarity with all Gulf leaders, and placed
the Kingdom’s trade and financing routes, through its roads, airports and ports,
at the service of them and their peoples.
He also affirmed to all that their security is the Kingdom’s security, and that
the Kingdom will support every step they take to preserve their security and
stability.
The Kingdom will always remain true to its pact with its brothers. This is how
affairs are managed, and this is how foresight works. With Allah’s blessing, our
caravan moves forward. Let the dogs bark at the top of their voices, and let our
enemies bite their fingers in rage.
Will AI level up skills — or widen inequality?
Maria Lombardi/Arab News/May 09, 2026
Recent advances in artificial intelligence have created widespread expectations
of substantial productivity gains. Early studies, such as one showing that AI
increased the productivity of customer support agents by 15 percent on average —
with less-experienced workers getting a much bigger boost — as well as emerging
evidence of AI-driven productivity gains in macro data, have further elevated
hopes for a surge in output per worker.
As with past innovations, a key question is how the gains from productivity
growth will be distributed. Historically, technological advances have disrupted
labor markets and often widened gaps in earnings and employment between
individuals according to their educational level. More than half of the overall
changes in the US wage structure over the last four decades can be attributed to
a relative decline in wages for blue-collar workers in manufacturing and
clerical jobs where routine tasks could be automated.
Many fear that AI will increase inequality. But the fact that, unlike previous
technologies, these systems can perform complex cognitive tasks raises the
possibility that AI could democratize skills. In other words, AI could enable
workers with limited formal training to perform tasks that previously required
extensive education, thereby narrowing the gap between workers.
In a recent study, my co-authors and I examined AI’s effect on individuals with
a high-school diploma compared to those with a postsecondary degree.
Participants completed a task based on a realistic hypothetical business
scenario: They had to respond to an email from their boss by analyzing several
sources of information. Half of them — randomly selected — had access to a
virtual AI assistant embedded in the platform, while the other half did not.
We found that AI could reduce inequality between workers of different
educational levels. While access to AI improved both groups’ performance, the
effect was much greater for the less-educated participants. While the latter
performed significantly worse than higher-educated participants in the absence
of any technical support, access to AI closed 75 percent of the initial
performance gap, with gains in both content and writing quality.
To understand the remaining gap, we analyzed participants’ interactions with the
AI assistant and found qualitative differences in engagement. Higher-educated
users were more likely to give structured prompts and provide specific
instructions aimed at guiding the assistant through thinking over the task and
generating the final output. Moreover, because many participants combined
AI-generated text with their own contributions, quality still seemed to reflect
education-driven productivity differences.
Studies have raised hopes of a surge in worker output.
To determine whether using the AI assistant affected participants’ ability to
articulate and justify their reasoning once it was no longer available, they
were asked follow-up questions immediately after completing the task, with no
access to the tool. There was no evidence that previous AI use harmed subsequent
performance for either group. In fact, some of the gains from the AI assistant
carried over for the participants with no postsecondary education, a finding
consistent with genuine engagement with the problem rather than pure task
delegation.
To be sure, generative AI does not eliminate the role of human capital in
performance, nor does it equalize fundamental abilities. Instead, we find that
it relaxes execution constraints that are more binding for individuals with less
formal education.
Whether AI ends up narrowing or widening inequality will depend less on the
technology itself than on the companies and institutions shaping its adoption
and use. Worryingly, recent evidence suggests that AI usage is already more
common among more educated workers. Emerging corporate practices are reinforcing
this trend, as major tech firms move beyond encouraging AI adoption to mandating
it — and even factoring its use into performance reviews.
Since the push for AI adoption is mainly concentrated in highly skilled sectors
such as tech, it risks deepening existing disparities rather than broadening
access to the workers who stand to benefit from it the most. Compounding this
problem is the finding that AI may diminish hiring for entry-level positions,
which less-educated workers typically use to get their foot on the employment
ladder — raising the possibility of that ladder being pulled up even as these
tools improve and increasingly close the performance gap.
Businesses, schools, and governments can significantly expand opportunity by
investing in AI training, broadening access to these tools, and devising
policies that help less-educated workers use them productively, increasing the
range of tasks they can perform well. Policymakers must also ensure, through
appropriate rules and incentives, that AI complements, rather than replaces,
workers. If access, know-how, and organizational support remain concentrated
among the already advantaged, the benefits of AI may be captured in ways that
reproduce the inequalities associated with past technological change.
• Maria Lombardi is Academic Dean and Associate Professor at the School of
Government at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Argentina.
©Project Syndicate
Institutional ties deepen Saudi-Turkish strategic alignment
Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/May 09, 2026
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Ankara this week, where
he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Turkish counterpart,
Hakan Fidan. Both foreign ministers co-chaired the third meeting of the
Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council, which is the solid institutional mechanism
created to strengthen ties between Riyadh and Ankara. While high-profile visits
and the signing of major agreements often make headlines in Saudi-Turkish
relations, a gradual process of institutionalization in relations is taking
shape. Therefore, it is important to highlight the mechanisms of this process,
and to understand why institutionalization matters for the long-term goals in
Saudi-Turkish relations. Institutionalization in international relations refers
to a structured cooperation that includes regular diplomatic coordination and
creation of formal and issue-specific mechanisms. In the case of Saudi-Turkish
relations, the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council represents a solid example of
institutionalization in relations. Created in 2016, the council aimed to be the
main platform for structured cooperation. Although its effectiveness remained
limited for several years, it gained momentum last year, when it convened its
second meeting. Over the past two years, the council has transformed relations
between Riyadh and Ankara into a more structured form of intergovernmental
cooperation.
The significance of such mechanisms is often underestimated. However, the
council is more than just a formal body. It facilitates closer cooperation
across several domains in relations from trade to security. The Saudi-Turkish
Parliamentary Friendship Committee is another mechanism that functions to
strengthen ties between the Saudi Shura Council and the Turkish Grand National
Assembly. In international relations, such mechanisms are often described as
contributing to “institutional resilience,” meaning they provide continuity in
bilateral relations even when the political atmosphere changes. The shift toward
institutionalization has become particularly visible in defense and security
cooperation, with the signing of military cooperation agreements, the expansion
of defense industry partnerships, and increased intelligence coordination, all
of which reflect a more coordinated approach in Saudi-Turkish relations. In
particular, defense cooperation has emerged as one of the strongest
institutional pillars in their relations.
Institutionalization is also evident in the economic and infrastructural
cooperation. To raise trade volume and institutionalize economic cooperation,
Saudi-Turkish business forums have been organized to bring together stakeholders
from both countries. Last year, the two sides also convened the Saudi-Turkish
Economic Cooperation Summit, which provided a platform for businessmen and
investors to explore new opportunities for collaboration and investment. More
recently, the Saudi-Turkiye Investment Forum was held in Riyadh in February for
the same purpose. Speaking at the event, the Saudi investment minister said that
the investment forum reflected an unprecedented level of political and economic
alignment between the two countries and demonstrated the determination of both
leaderships to expand their partnership to “new strategic horizons.”
Defense cooperation has emerged as one of the strongest institutional pillars in
their relations.
After the agreement between Saudi Arabia Railways and Turkish State Railways,
the two countries announced plans this month for a rail project that would link
the Kingdom to Turkiye via Jordan and Syria, with completion expected by the end
of the year. This initiative reflects close coordination in transport
cooperation, as both Riyadh and Ankara seek to enhance regional connectivity and
facilitate trade along a strategic north-south corridor.
During the third meeting of the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council, the two
sides also signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of
diplomatic and special passports. This represents not only a further step in the
institutionalization of ties, but also a clear expression of political will to
deepen both political and economic relations.
Both Saudi Arabia and Turkiye — two middle powers — occupy significant positions
within the international system, particularly in global energy and economic
markets. Both are influential members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
and the G20. At the same time, both maintain strong ties with Western political
and security frameworks, while keeping pragmatic relations with Russia and
China. Thus, both are positioned at the crossroads of key political and economic
coalitions.
Saudi Arabia and Turkiye increasingly acknowledge that the regional order is
undergoing significant transformation. Within this broader context, they are
increasingly structuring their relations, and this is a reflection of the
strategic alignment emerging between them. This alignment is being shaped by
broader shifts in the region. The Gaza war, the collapse of the Syrian regime,
the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, and the uncertain security situation that
emerged due to these developments is collectively pushing Riyadh and Ankara
toward an institutionalized form of relationship as a means of mitigating
instability.
Saudi Arabia and Turkiye’s regional visions are increasingly converging. Both
countries prefer centralized state structures in the region as the best way to
achieve stability. For example, in Syria, since the fall of the Assad regime,
the idea of a strong, centralized state has been reinforced by both Riyadh and
Ankara. Their emphasis on centralization should be read as a broader political
and economic trend. The post-Assad transformation in Syria has opened space for
new regional connectivity initiatives. Both Saudi Arabia and Turkiye view a
functioning central authority in Syria as essential not only for political
stability, but also for advancing their long-term connectivity initiatives.
Therefore, the development of Syria’s transport infrastructure is seen as a key
priority for enhancing both regional connectivity and security. Achieving these
objectives requires sustained coordination, which further highlights the
importance of institutional mechanisms. Within this context, both states may
also consider establishing a High Strategic Committee, like the one Turkiye has
with Qatar. Such institutionalized mechanisms matter because they create
channels of communication that continue functioning even during times of
disagreement. Institutionalization functions not only as a mechanism for
cooperation, but also as a tool for strategic risk management, helping to reduce
the adverse impacts of shifting regional dynamics. A turn toward
institutionalized relations is key for both Riyadh and Ankara to achieve their
shared regional vision and build their cooperation on a sustainable basis.
• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s
relations with the Middle East.
X: @SinemCngz
Selected Face
Book & X tweets for
May 09/2026
Siyad Raleme
Liberating Lebanon from the influence of Saudi Arabia and the
Arab League is just as important as liberating it from Iranian influence.
Ambassadeur Rabih Chaer
On this #8mai, day of memory and peace, the Embassy of #Lebanon in #France pays
tribute to all the victims of wars and violence, yesterday as today.
This commemoration resonates particularly for the Lebanese people, who continue
to bear the wounds of conflicts, exile, and trials, while remaining deeply
attached to life, to freedom, and to human dignity.
Lebanon knows the price of peace.
It also knows the strength of dialogue, solidarity, and hope when peoples refuse
to yield to division and hatred.
Giorgia Meloni
“We have a Pope.” One year ago, the white smoke over the Sistine Chapel
announced to the world that the Church had chosen Peter's successor. On this
occasion, I wish to renew to Pope Leo XIV a thought of gratitude for his
tireless message of faith, hope, peace, dialogue among peoples, and closeness to
the least. In a complex time marked by great uncertainties, his voice represents
a global point of reference, for Christians and not only.