English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News
& Editorials
For May 31/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do
not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say
to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you
John 14/27-31: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I
do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and
do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am
coming to you." If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the
Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this
before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer
talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over
me;but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I
love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way."
Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related
News & Editorials published on 30-31 May/2026
Jumblatt and Berri are more dangerous than Hezbollah and even the devil
himself./Elias Bejjani/May 30/2026
The Absurdity of the Salam Government’s Crocodile Tears Over Beaufort Castle and
Tyre’s Ruins—While Hezbollah Turned Them Into Military Barracks and
Warehouses/Elias Bejjani/May 29/2026
There is no hope and no promise from the rulers of Lebanon and its subservient
political parties salvation, if it is destined to come, will be through the
State of Israel and its army./Elias Bejjani/May 27/2026
US hails ‘productive’ talks between Israel, Lebanon military officials
Israel launches more south Lebanon strikes after warnings
Ahead of Washington talks: Between Lebanon's demands and Israel's conditions—The
details
Israeli army issues new evacuation warning for South Lebanon villages
Israel orders new evacuations as forces push deeper into Lebanon
US hails 'productive' talks between Israel, Lebanon military officials
Hezbollah says fired rockets twice at Kiryat Shmona
What options as UNIFIL's Lebanon exit looms?
UN says Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed 15 kids and hurt 62 over past week
US grants reprieve shielding 11,000 Lebanese from deportation
Two Lebanese soldiers seriously wounded in Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh
Aoun, Salam review Washington military talks and next round of negotiations
Lebanon PM denounces Israeli campaign as fresh strikes hit south
PM Salam: Israel pursuing widespread destruction, Lebanon chose negotiations to
protect its future
Lebanon Finance Ministry clarifies aid figures: $50 million to Social Affairs,
broader aid exceeds hundreds of millions
Video-Link & text to a panel discussion from the Washington Institute under the
title: “Israel-Lebanon Talks, Round 4: The Pentagon Takes a Seat”/participants:
Hanin Ghaddar,Brig. Gen. Assaf Orion (IDF, Res.) ,David Schenker,/Moderated by
Executive Director Robert Satloff
Beyond Disarmament: How the IRGC Keeps Hezbollah in Power Despite Its Military
Losses/Hanin Ghaddar/The Washington Institute/May 30/2026
Liberation Day — or Displacement Day?/Makram Rabah/Now Lebanon/May 30/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on 30-31 May/2026
US warns capable of resuming war with Iran as deal remains elusive
Khamenei adviser says Trump ‘betraying diplomacy’ with blockade and excessive
demands
US says it disables another commercial ship trying to breach blockade and reach
Iran
Oman Maritime Security Centre warns of suspected sea mine in Strait of Hormuz
Kataeb Hezbollah vows to keep arms as Iraq faces US pressure to disarm groups
Palestinian killed, others injured in Israeli airstrike on Deir Al-Balah
US planning faster troop withdrawal from Europe
UK’s Burnham weighs snap election if he becomes PM: Report
Hegseth sounds ‘alarm’ over China’s buildup, urges allies to boost defense spend
Russia recalls envoy to Armenia for 'consultations' over Yerevan's EU ties
Russia’s Rosatom says Ukrainian drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Ousted Turkish opposition leader Ozel draws thousands in Ankara protest
Trump in excellent health with leg swelling, hand bruising, but should lose
weight: Doctor
US expels new group of west Africans to Ghana, lawyer says
Brazil investigates suspected Ebola case in Sao Paulo
Titles For The Latest
English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on 30-31 May/2026
Tehran seems just as enthusiastic about the new prime minister as
Washington—a telling sign that the militia-dominated status quo in Baghdad will
be difficult and slow to change, if it changes at all./David Schenker/ The
Washington Institute/May 30/2026
Iran's Regime - No Matter How Hard Any Western Leader Tries to Sell It That Way
- Has Not Changed/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/May 30, 2026
Syria-Jordan-Lebanon energy deal could fuel huge benefits across the wider
region/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/May 30/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 30 May/2026
on 30-31 May/2026
Jumblatt and Berri are more dangerous
than Hezbollah and even the devil himself.
Elias Bejjani/May
30/2026
Unless the American sanctions target the corrupt and Trojan horse duo of
Jumblatt and Berri, it will not have the desired deterrent effect.
This un-Lebanese and diabolical pair is a million times more dangerous than
Hezbollah.
The Absurdity of the Salam
Government’s Crocodile Tears Over Beaufort Castle and Tyre’s Ruins—While
Hezbollah Turned Them Into Military Barracks and Warehouses
Elias Bejjani/May 29/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/154894/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlKn43r3g3M&t=718s
Beaufort Castle
Beaufort Castle, or Qalaat Shaqif Arnoun (known in French as Château de
Beaufort), is a historic fortress located in Lebanon, about one kilometer from
the village of Arnoun. Originally built by the Romans, its structures were later
expanded by the Crusaders and restored by Emir Fakhreddine II. The castle is
built on a high, sheer cliff overlooking the Litani River, the Marjayoun plain,
and the Nabatieh region. Its unique design bends along with the mountain, and
its walls—built from local rock—make it look hidden among the cliffs, even
though its grand silhouette can be seen from miles away. In historical
references, it is known as Beaufort, meaning "the beautiful fortress."
The Trojan and Submissive Comedy in Occupied Lebanon
The ridiculous "Trojan" and submissive theater continues in occupied Lebanon,
accompanied by a chorus of silent weeping and public mourning. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government—which is completely castrated of any national
pride—alongside a bunch of accidental and submissive ministers, are stepping up
today to shed crocodile tears over the ancient city of Tyre and weep for the
fate of the historic Beaufort Castle following Israeli military strikes.
The tragicomic irony is that this so-called "state," falsely named the Lebanese
Republic, is actually just an occupied province belonging to the "State of
Hezbollah"—with all the terror and hostage-taking that implies. This regime begs
the international community and the world's conscience to protect historical
stones. Yet, it has openly conspired and collaborated to hand over the people,
the land, and history to an Iranian terrorist militia that has turned Tyre, its
surroundings, and the towers of Beaufort Castle into military barracks and
rocket warehouses!
Minister Raji and Idle Diplomatic Contacts: Much Ado About Nothing
In a highly dramatic scene, Foreign Minister Youssef Raji releases a statement
dripping with "deep pain and profound anxiety," talking about Tyre’s ancient
neighborhoods, its churches, and its mosques that survived for thousands of
years. The minister boasts about his "intensive diplomatic contacts" to save
this human heritage. In the exact same context came a notable statement by the
Arabist and Nasserist Minister of Culture, Ghassan Salameh.
What heritage are Raji and Salameh even talking about? Their sweet diplomatic
words are completely worthless and lack any credibility. With full intent,
premeditation, and blatant submission, they choose to ignore the naked truth:
the Iranian-backed, jihadist Hezbollah is the one that turned these ancient
neighborhoods and historic sites into military outposts and security zones right
under the cover of Nawaf Salam’s helpless government. Their diplomatic calls are
nothing but an exercise in stupidity, serving as a cover-up for a clear Iranian
occupation that is holding Tyre and its people hostage, while turning Beaufort
Castle into an Iranian military barracks.
The Arnon Municipality and "Enhanced Protection" for a Rocket Arsenal!
Equally detached from reality is the statement issued by the Arnon Municipality.
The municipality condemns the shelling of Beaufort Castle by hiding behind the
2024 Hague Convention protocol, which granted the castle "enhanced protection."
The municipality and the "Green Southerners" association call the strikes a
"systematic cultural genocide" and a war crime.
How short-sighted can these local officials be! International laws and heritage
treaties automatically lose their validity the moment a terrorist militia
transforms a historic site into a strategic military outpost to launch rockets,
dig tunnels, and store weapons. Beaufort Castle, with its strategic location
overlooking the Litani River and the Galilee, stopped being a tourist landmark
the moment Hezbollah decided to resurrect its military "glory" there. Your talk
about the "resilience of its people" over centuries is just a cheap excuse to
justify the presence of Iranian weapon depots. Your statement is completely
meaningless and worthless because you chose to ignore how the castle was
booby-trapped with the spirit of the Mullahs. You stripped it of its cultural
identity and dressed it in a yellow military uniform.
The Baalbek Theater Repeated in the South
This official hypocrisy reminds us of the exact same ridiculous plays staged by
Hezbollah, its submissive state, and its media puppets during the COVID-19 era
when they exposed the Baalbek ruins to the danger of destruction. Back then,
they openly bragged about their military control while the state remained
completely silent. Today, the exact same scenario is repeated in the South: the
militia plants weapons among the ruins, and the government cries over
international law!
Nawaf Salam: Political Coma and Intentional Blindness
As for Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, he treats us on the "X" platform to worn-out
clichés like "nothing justifies these attacks" and demands for a full Israeli
withdrawal and the return of state authority.
Mr. Prime Minister, where is this state authority you are talking about? What
sovereignty are you weeping for when you know damn well that every single inch
of Lebanon—not just Tyre or Beaufort Castle—is a military barracks and a weapons
depot hijacked by the Iranian Supreme Leader (Wali al-Faqih)? How can you act
surprised by these strikes while you cowardly turn a blind eye to the real
occupation sitting inside your government offices and controlling your military
and security institutions?
Conclusion: Shut Up and Accept the Truth
The puppets of this government, the cheerleaders of Hezbollah, and all the
complicit ministers and officials in Lebanon should just shut up, swallow their
tongues, and go away. Stop your cheap media campaigns that claim to protect
history and heritage.
This is a state falsely called a "Republic," but in reality, it is an Iranian
province ruled by a terrorist faction that holds the sole decision over war and
peace. It controls the necks and the tongues of everyone in power. The world
will not believe you, and treaties will not protect you, as long as Lebanon’s
history and present are used as wooden shields to protect Hezbollah's arsenal.
Your screaming has no credibility, and your tears are nothing but waste water
running down the face of a state that has no sovereignty and no dignity
There is no hope and no
promise from the rulers of Lebanon and its subservient political parties
salvation, if it is destined to come, will be through the State of Israel and
its army.
Elias Bejjani/May 27/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/154855/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE4KSTqfiVM
What the "Land of the Cedars," the land of holiness and saints, is currently
suffering from is not only the Iranian occupation with its debauchery,
obscenity, terror, jihadism, hallucinations, delusions, and the culture of death
it promotes; rather, the bitter truth that must not be ignored lies also in
this: all the rulers of Lebanon and the so called falsely political parties are
nothing but diabolical tools operated by the "Party of Satan" via remote
control. No president has any authority of his own, and no official exercises
his responsibilities. They are merely Trojan horses, stripped of both will and
decision-making power, and no hope or promise can be expected from them.
It clearly remains that salvation and liberation as is clear even to the
blind—will not come, if it is ordained to come, except by way of the State of
Israel and its army. Therefore, to uphold facts and reality, it is the duty of
every sovereign Lebanese who realizes that the cancerous "Hezbollah" occupies
Lebanon and is destroying it, to thank Israel; because it is executing
militarily what the Lebanese lack the capacity to do themselves.
In summary, the actual reality shows us clearly that the evil Iranian terrorist
Hezbollah continues to occupy Lebanon; the state is its state, the
decision-making is its own, and all institutions are under its command, as it
drives rulers and politicians with a whip. It is a bitter and shocking truth,
yet it is the very reality that Lebanon lives and the Lebanese endure.
US hails ‘productive’ talks between Israel, Lebanon military
officials
AFP/30 May ,2026
Military officials from Israel and Lebanon held “productive” talks in Washington
on Friday, a US official said, adding that the meeting will complement upcoming
diplomatic discussions. “Today at the Pentagon, I hosted military delegations
from Israel and Lebanon for the security track supporting the ongoing peace
talks between their two countries,” Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s
second-in-command, said on X. “We held productive military-to-military
discussions which will inform the Department of State-led political track next
week,” he said. It was the first meeting between Israeli and Lebanese military
officials in decades. “The United States anticipates reconvening soon to
continue the security track,” Colby said. He made no mention of the truce to
halt fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon that
was supposed to have taken effect on April 17, but has never been observed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his country’s forces
had pushed deeper into Lebanon and continued heavy bombardment of the country’s
south. Israeli strikes on Friday in three areas of Tyre, in southern Lebanon,
killed 11 people including a rescuer, the country’s health ministry said. Eight
people were wounded. Hezbollah said it had launched a series of attacks
targeting soldiers, barracks and a military camp in northern Israel on Friday.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
“the need to exert all efforts to reach a ceasefire” as an essential first step
for progress in negotiations. The State Department said Rubio “commended
President Aoun’s courage and vision in pursuing direct negotiations with Israel”
despite Hezbollah’s opposition, adding the group was “entirely responsible for
the ongoing fighting.”The meeting at the Pentagon took place amid ongoing
negotiations between the United States and Iran, with Tehran seeking to include
the Lebanese front in any agreement aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.
Israel launches more south Lebanon strikes after warnings
AFP/May 30/2026
Israel launched strikes across south Lebanon Saturday after ordering evacuations
from more than a dozen locations a day after its premier said Israeli forces had
pushed even deeper into Lebanese territory. Lebanon’s army said a “targeted”
Israeli strike wounded two soldiers in the south, just a day after military
delegations from both countries held landmark security talks in Washington.The
military talks in the US capital came ahead of US-brokered negotiations early
next week – the fourth round since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli several strikes
in the south, including artillery fire near the mediaeval-era Beaufort castle.
Culture Minister Ghassan Salame had warned on Friday that Israeli attacks were
putting Lebanese heritage sites in “serious danger.” The Lebanese presidency
announced in a statement that President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf
Salam had agreed “to intensify contacts to put an end to these condemned Israeli
practices” ahead of the new round of talks with Israel scheduled for June 2 and
3. Aoun and Salam discussed “Israeli attacks and their expansion to a number of
southern cities and villages, especially in the districts of Tyre and Nabatieh,
in addition to the continued bombing and bulldozing of houses, and the
destruction of historical landmarks in the south.”
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s second-in-command, called the latest discussions
between Lebanon and Israel’s military delegations “productive,” but made no
mention of a ceasefire, a key Lebanese demand.
‘Israeli drone’
Lebanon’s military said on Saturday its two soldiers “were seriously wounded as
a result of being targeted inside a vehicle by a hostile Israeli drone” near the
southern city of Nabatieh. A truce to halt the fighting between Israel and the
Iran-backed Hezbollah officially took effect on April 17 but has never been
observed. Iran insists that Lebanon be included in any agreement with the United
States to end the wider war that engulfed the Middle East region in February.
Both Israel and Hezbollah accuse each other of violating the ceasefire and
justify their own attacks by the other’s alleged breaches. The Israeli
military’s evacuation warnings for Saturday included some villages near Nabatieh
and some in the east of the country. Also on Saturday, Hezbollah said it fired
rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona. The group said it also
ambushed Israeli soldiers near Ghandouriyeh in southern Lebanon, saying it
forced them to withdraw, and fired rockets at a military base in north Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that Israeli
forces had advanced beyond the Litani river that runs around 30 kilometers (20
miles) north of the Lebanon-Israel frontier. “Our forces have crossed the Litani,
they have moved up to the commanding terrain,” he said, adding Israel was
“hitting Hezbollah head on.”Israeli strikes on the south killed 11 people on
Friday, according to the health ministry in Beirut. The ministry says that
Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,300 people since March 2, when Hezbollah
drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in support of its backer Iran. Hezbollah
said it attacked Israel in retaliation for the death of Iran’s supreme leader in
US-Israeli strikes when the war erupted on February 28.
Ahead of Washington talks: Between Lebanon's demands and Israel's conditions—The
details
LBCI/May 30/2026
Lebanon's leadership has intensified efforts, particularly with the United
States, to halt the ongoing Israeli escalation, placing a ceasefire at the top
of its diplomatic agenda. The priority was reaffirmed by Lebanese President
Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam after they reviewed the outcome of
military meetings held by a Lebanese Army delegation at the Pentagon. However,
the conclusions conveyed by the delegation were not encouraging. President Aoun
was reportedly informed that there had been no change in the Israeli position
and no readiness to move toward de-escalation. On the contrary, Israeli
officials appeared committed to maintaining their current course. During the
meetings on Friday, the Lebanese delegation reportedly heard three firm Israeli
conditions: no ceasefire, no retreat from ongoing military expansion on the
ground, and no withdrawal from South Lebanon before practical steps are taken
regarding Hezbollah's weapons. The discussions also revisited a U.S. proposal to
establish a pilot brigade within the Lebanese Armed Forces. Under the proposal,
the unit would be trained, equipped, and armed by the United States and would
form part of a broader implementation framework aimed at consolidating state
control over weapons. Nonetheless, the Lebanese delegation reiterated the
official position that any serious discussion must begin with a durable
ceasefire, an end to Israeli attacks and incursions, and the start of an Israeli
withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory. Only then, Lebanese officials
argued, can the army continue implementing its plan to consolidate state
authority and address the issue of weapons outside state control. The outcome of
the Pentagon meetings is expected to be carried by Lebanon's political
negotiating team, headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, into the second round of
negotiations scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington. Despite the
upcoming talks, significant gaps remain between Lebanon's demands and Israel's
conditions. Lebanese officials remain concerned that continued military
escalation and the creation of new realities on the ground could further
complicate diplomatic efforts and narrow the prospects for a negotiated
breakthrough.
Israeli army issues new evacuation warning for South
Lebanon villages
LBCI/May 30/2026
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued an urgent warning to residents
of several villages in South Lebanon, calling on them to evacuate immediately
and move north of the Zahrani River. The warning applies to the villages of
Merouaniyeh, Loubieh, Meidoun, Ansariyeh, Zefta, and Tefahta. In his statement,
Adraee said the Israeli army was being compelled to act against Hezbollah
following what he described as violations of the ceasefire agreement, while
claiming that Israeli forces do not intend to target civilians. He urged
residents to leave their homes immediately and relocate to areas north of the
Zahrani River, warning that anyone present near Hezbollah members, facilities,
or military equipment could be putting their lives at risk.
Israel orders new evacuations as forces push deeper into
Lebanon
Agence France Presse/May 30/2026
Israel's military issued evacuation warnings on Saturday for residents of seven
villages in southern Lebanon, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said Israeli forces had pushed deeper into the country. The latest warnings came
a day after Lebanese and Israeli military delegations held landmark security
talks in Washington and ahead of U.S.-brokered negotiations early next week --
the fourth round since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted. Israel has
kept up its heavy bombardment of south Lebanon, with President Joseph Aoun
emphasizing in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio "the need to
exert all efforts to reach a ceasefire." A truce to halt the fighting between
Israel and Tehran-backed Hezbollah officially took effect on April 17, but has
never been observed, and Iran insists that Lebanon be included in any agreement
with the United States to end the wider war that engulfed the region in
February. Both Israel and Hezbollah accuse each other of violating the ceasefire
and justify their attacks by the other's alleged breaches. The Israeli
military's evacuation warnings for Saturday included some villages near Nabatieh.
Also on Saturday, Hezbollah said it fired rockets at the northern Israeli
settlement of Kiryat Shmona.
The group later said it ambushed Israeli soldiers near Ghandouriyeh, southern
Lebanon, saying it forced them to withdraw, and fired rockets at a military base
in north Israel.
On Friday, Hezbollah had said it launched attacks in northern Israel and
Israel's military confirmed intercepting several projectiles from Lebanon, with
one hitting near Kiryat Shmona.
Hezbollah also said it attacked Israeli troops trying to advance near the
medieval Beaufort fortress, also known as Qalaat al-Chakif, which Israel's
forces had used as a base during their two-decade occupation of southern Lebanon
ending in 2000. Netanyahu announced Friday that Israeli forces had advanced
beyond a river that runs around 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the
Lebanon-Israel frontier. "Our forces have crossed the Litani, they have moved up
to the commanding terrain," he said, adding Israel was "hitting Hezbollah head
on".
Wave of displacement -
Israel and Lebanon began direct talks in April, with a fourth round expected
next week in Washington following Friday's meeting at the Pentagon, running
parallel to U.S. efforts to strike a deal with Iran to end the regional war.
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's second-in-command, called the discussions
"productive" in a post on X. Israeli strikes in the southern city of Tyre killed
11 people on Friday, according to Lebanon's health ministry, which called the
bombardment a "flagrant violation of humanitarian law". Lebanon was drawn into
the regional war when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in early March in
retaliation for the death of Iran's supreme leader in U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Hezbollah strongly opposes direct talks with Israeli representatives and has
refused to disarm. On Friday, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA)
reported Israeli airstrikes on more than 20 locations in the south. Hundreds of
people have fled to the usually touristy old city of Tyre, which has not been
included in recent Israeli army evacuation orders issued for swathes of the rest
of the city and surrounding areas. With shelters full, displaced residents were
sleeping in cars or tents, an AFP correspondent said. "The situation is very
difficult. Tyre is a peaceful, touristic city. We never imagined going through
this," said Karam Amin, 43, whose family of seven have been sleeping in his
clothing shop. Lebanon's health ministry said on Friday Israeli attacks have
killed at least 3,355 people since March 2 -- an increase of 31 compared to
Thursday when Israeli carried out its first airstrike near Beirut in weeks.
US hails 'productive' talks between Israel, Lebanon
military officials
Agence France Presse/May 30/2026
Military officials from Israel and Lebanon held "productive" talks in Washington
on Friday, a U.S. official said, adding that the meeting will complement
upcoming diplomatic discussions. "Today at the Pentagon, I hosted military
delegations from Israel and Lebanon for the security track supporting the
ongoing peace talks between their two countries," Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's
second-in-command, said on X. "We held productive military-to-military
discussions which will inform the Department of State-led political track next
week," he said. It was the first meeting between Israeli and Lebanese military
officials in decades. "The United States anticipates reconvening soon to
continue the security track," Colby said. He made no mention of the truce to
halt fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon that
was supposed to have taken effect on April 17, but has never been observed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that Israel's forces had
pushed deeper into Lebanon and continued heavy bombardment of the country's
south. Israeli strikes on Friday in three areas of Tyre, in southern Lebanon,
killed 11 people including a rescuer, the country's health ministry said. Eight
people were wounded. Hezbollah said it had launched a series of attacks
targeting soldiers, barracks and a military camp in northern Israel on Friday.
President Joseph Aoun stressed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio "the need
to exert all efforts to reach a ceasefire" as an essential first step for
progress in negotiations. The State Department said Rubio "commended President
Aoun's courage and vision in pursuing direct negotiations with Israel" despite
Hezbollah's opposition, adding the group was "entirely responsible for the
ongoing fighting." The meeting at the Pentagon took place amid ongoing
negotiations between the United States and Iran, with Tehran seeking to include
the Lebanese front in any agreement aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.
Hezbollah says fired rockets twice at Kiryat Shmona
Agence France Presse/May 30/2026
Hezbollah said on Saturday it fired rockets at the northern Israeli settlement
of Kiryat Shmona, as exchanges of fire between the two sides have intensified
despite Lebanon-Israel negotiations. In at least two statements, the Iran-backed
group said it launched a "rocket barrage" at the town "in defense of Lebanon and
its people, and in response to the Israeli enemy's violation of the ceasefire".
What options as UNIFIL's Lebanon exit looms?
Agence France Presse/May 30/2026
Lebanon is seeking an international force to replace a decades-long United
Nations peacekeeping mission whose mandate ends this year following U.S. and
Israeli pressure, even as the latest Israel-Hezbollah war continues. Concerns
over the possible exit of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with no
alternative come with Israeli troops occupying south Lebanon's border areas, and
as Israel and Lebanon hold direct negotiations seeking to end decades of
hostilities. The force has been a buffer between Lebanon and Israel since 1978,
but its presence has not been enough to prevent repeated outbreaks of conflict.
With the U.N. secretary-general set to submit a report to the Security Council
by June 1, AFP looks at some potential scenarios.
What does Lebanon want? -
UNIFIL currently counts some 7,500 peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries. They
are deployed in south Lebanon near the Blue Line, the 120-kilometer (75-mile) de
facto border between Lebanon and Israel, where they are now in the middle of the
Israel-Hezbollah war.
A Lebanese official requesting anonymity told AFP that after UNIFIL's mandate
ends on December 31, Lebanon's preference is to still have "an international
presence under the umbrella of the U.N." A second Lebanese official said it was
"crucial" to have some kind of U.N. force resembling UNIFIL, "maybe with some
downsizing or mission changes." "How can we talk about Resolution 1701 without
UNIFIL?" they added, also requesting anonymity. U.N. Security Council Resolution
1701 ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, and bolstered UNIFIL's role,
tasking peacekeepers with monitoring the ceasefire between the two sides. The
resolution also formed the basis of a 2024 truce that halted a previous round of
fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, under which the Lebanese government has
been seeking to disarm the Iran-backed group.
U.N. options? -
Several sources said discussions were ongoing ahead of the U.N. report, but that
options could include a downsized U.N. mission. Another might see the mission of
the U.N. Truce Supervision Organization extended. UNTSO is a regional
peacekeeping operation set up in 1948 that also has a small, unarmed contingent
in Lebanon. Authorities are waiting to see the U.N. report before making an
official request for international assistance, both Lebanese officials said. But
Israel and the United States, which last year pushed to end the UNIFIL mandate
at the Security Council, could try to block any new U.N. proposal. The second
Lebanese official said that even if Washington opposed a new U.N. formula, "we
hope that at least they will not veto it". Some Security Council members
including China are however in favor of keeping a U.N. force on the ground. Cash
could be another obstacle, with U.N.-led peacekeeping operations weakened by a
funding crisis that has already seen UNIFIL cut its numbers in recent months.
Non-U.N. options? -
If no new U.N. arrangement is reached, several sources said alternative
proposals could include a European Union force or bilateral military
arrangements between Lebanon and individual countries. They said Italy, France
and Spain, which all have major troop contingents in UNIFIL, have expressed
willingness to keep forces in Lebanon. In February, President Joseph Aoun asked
Germany -- which heads UNIFIL's maritime taskforce -- to play a "key role" after
UNIFIL's departure.But myriad bilateral military accords could be unwieldy.
"What makes increasing sense to everyone is going back to a U.N. framework," a
Western diplomatic source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Vacuum? -
A worst-case scenario for Lebanon would be a UNIFIL pullout without any
alternative. The diplomatic source said such a vacuum would be "a very dangerous
situation for Israel and Lebanon". "There wouldn't be any international witness
to make sure that whatever is eventually agreed upon (in Israel-Lebanon
negotiations) is well-implemented on the ground," they said. A U.N. source noted
that there would also be "a lot more competition for the narrative" with no
international presence. "UNIFIL monitors and reports impartially -- there isn't
currently another actor or organization on the ground that can do that," the
source said on condition of anonymity.
UN says Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed 15 kids and hurt 62 over past week
Agence France Presse/May 30/2026
Fifteen children have been killed in Lebanon and 62 injured over the last seven
days, the United Nations said Friday, despite the ceasefire between Israel and
Hezbollah. UNICEF, the U.N. children's agency, called the figures "staggering"
and stressed that under international humanitarian law, children had to be
protected at all times during conflict. And the World Health Organization (WHO)
said more than 600 people had been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire was
supposed to have taken effect on April 17. "According to the Lebanese Ministry
of Public Health, 77 children have reportedly been killed or injured over the
past week alone," UNICEF spokesman Ricardo Pires told a media briefing in
Geneva. "Fifteen children killed and 62 injured in seven days. That's an average
of 11 children every 24 hours. "We understand the vast majority of these
children were impacted by airstrikes in south Lebanon. Only yesterday, seven
children were killed and 30 injured," he said. The ceasefire between Israel and
the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has never been strictly observed. Both
sides accuse each other of violating it and justify their attacks by the other
camp's alleged breaches. In total, since the ceasefire was announced, 55
children have been killed and 212 wounded, Pires said.
Hospitals damaged -
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war in early March when Hezbollah
launched rockets at Israel over the killing of Iran's supreme leader in
U.S.-Israeli attacks, prompting Israeli strikes and a ground invasion. The WHO
said there had been 1,774 injuries and 608 deaths in Lebanon from April 17 to
May 22. "The threat of expansion of military activities raises grave concerns
for the health of the population," WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told the
Geneva press conference. "To date, in this conflict, a total of 16 hospitals and
13 primary healthcare centres have been damaged... Three hospitals remain
closed," he said. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that
Israeli forces had crossed Lebanon's Litani River, which runs around 30
kilometers (19 miles) north of the border.
Israel has bombed several bridges over the Litani in recent weeks -- effectively
cutting off the area to the south from the rest of Lebanon -- accusing Hezbollah
of using them to transport weapons and reinforcements. Lindmeier said access to
acute medical care and maternal health services south of the Litani "remains
critically constrained". Patients are facing "delays of up to 48 hours to secure
clearance for movement to referral facilities, causing serious risks to patient
outcomes, including increased maternal and neo-natal morbidity and mortality",
he said.
US grants reprieve shielding 11,000 Lebanese from
deportation
Associated Press/May 30/2026
The Trump administration has extended protections shielding about 11,000
Lebanese from deportation, allowing them to stay and work in the United States
for another six months.
The decision, announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security, marked
a rare reprieve for people protected by temporary measures which have been
harshly criticized by Republicans. The extension comes amid ongoing fighting in
southern Lebanon between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. The decision was
automatic, meaning that the administration missed the deadline by which they
were supposed to decide on whether to extend the measure called Temporary
Protected Status for Lebanese people living in the U.S. who are covered by the
program. By statute, the status automatically extends for six months if the
department misses the deadline. It was an unusual outcome for an administration
that has cancelled the protections that had covered people from 13 countries,
including Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Syria from deportation. TPS was
created by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from
natural disasters or civil strife, giving people authorization to work in
increments of up to 18 months. More than 1 million immigrants from 17 countries
were protected by TPS at the beginning of the Trump administration, after the
Biden administration greatly expanded its use. The program has been at the
center of a controversy. Republicans and critics of TPS argue that the program
and its protections deviate from their original temporary intent, taking on a
quasi-permanent character when extended. Its defenders assert that it is a
fundamental humanitarian program that prevents vulnerable individuals from being
forced to return to dangerous conditions. The DHS notice said that former DHS
Secretary Kristi Noem and current Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who has led the
department for the past two months, "were unable to make an informed
determination on Lebanon's TPS designation." The extension allows existing
beneficiaries to keep their protections through Nov. 27, 2026, "if they still
meet the eligibility requirements for TPS," according to the notice. The work
permits that were already issued for Lebanese TPS holders will be valid until
the same day. This is the second time the Trump administration has automatically
extended a TPS designation. The first happened nearly a year ago with South
Sudan, but the protections were terminated in November 2025, after the six-month
extension period. There are dozens of lawsuits challenging the termination of
TPS at federal courts in different states. The Supreme Court is set to make a
decision on TPS that protected Haitians and Syrians during the summer, and the
result is expected to have an impact on all the other cases.
Advocates welcomed the extension.
"Extending Temporary Protected Status means Lebanese nationals in the United
States will not be forced back into dangerous conditions but allowed to stay and
continue supporting their families and contributing to their local communities,"
said Kelly Razzouk, vice president of policy and advocacy at the International
Rescue Committee. José Palma, national coordinator of the National TPS
Alliance—an advocacy group that has fought in federal courts against the
cancellation of TPS for several countries—welcomed the extension of protections
for the Lebanese. "But we need to find a permanent solution for all TPS
beneficiaries," he warned.
Two Lebanese soldiers seriously wounded in Israeli drone
strike in Nabatieh
LBCI/May 30/2026
Two soldiers from the Lebanese Army were seriously wounded after an Israeli
drone targeted their vehicle on the main road in the town of Ebba, in the
Nabatieh district of South Lebanon.
The soldiers sustained critical injuries in the strike and were transported to a
hospital for treatment, according to available information.
Aoun, Salam review Washington military talks and next round
of negotiations
LBCI/May 30/2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday at
Baabda Palace to review the country’s general situation and recent security
developments in the south amid ongoing Israeli strikes. The meeting focused on
what they described as continued Israeli attacks expanding into several southern
towns and villages, particularly in the districts of Tyre and Nabatieh, along
with the ongoing demolition of homes and destruction of historical sites. The
two leaders also discussed repeated warnings to residents to leave their homes,
and agreed to intensify diplomatic contacts to halt what they called “condemned
practices.”Aoun and Salam also assessed a recent meeting in Washington between
Lebanese, U.S., and Israeli military delegations, where Lebanon reaffirmed its
priority of securing a ceasefire.
The talks also covered preparations for the next round of negotiations scheduled
for June 2–3, as well as ongoing security conditions and the situation of
residents displaced from their homes.
Lebanon PM denounces Israeli campaign as fresh strikes hit
south
AFP/30 May ,2026
Lebanon’s prime minister accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” in
his country’s south, urging a halt to the fighting as Israel carried out fresh
airstrikes and issued evacuation orders for more than a dozen locations. A day
after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces had advanced
deeper into Lebanon, his counterpart Nawaf Salam warned the country was facing a
“dangerous” escalation and called for “a swift and real ceasefire.”In a
televised address, Salam accused Israel of “pursuing a scorched-earth policy and
collective punishment” by “destroying towns and villages and forcing their
inhabitants into exile.”This will bring “neither security nor stability” to
Israel, he said. Still, he defended his government’s engagement with its
southern neighbor, after military delegations from both countries held security
talks in Washington on Friday, with more US-brokered negotiations planned next
week. Salam said the outcome of the negotiations was “not guaranteed,” but
called them “the least costly path for our country and our people.”A truce to
halt the fighting between Israel and Tehran-backed Hezbollah officially took
effect on April 17 but has never been observed. Both Israel and Hezbollah accuse
each other of violating the ceasefire and justify their attacks by the other’s
alleged breaches. A US statement issued after Friday’s Israel-Lebanon talks made
no mention of the truce but said the “productive military-to-military
discussions” would inform next week’s political meeting.Hezbollah vehemently
opposes the direct talks.
Fresh attacks
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported several Israeli attacks
in the south Saturday, and the Lebanese military said two of its soldiers “were
seriously wounded... by a hostile Israeli drone” near the southern city of
Nabatieh. The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation warnings covering
villages near Nabatieh and others in the east of the country.Hezbollah said it
launched multiple attacks targeting northern Israel Saturday, and had also
clashed with Israeli soldiers near Ghandouriyeh and Debbine in southern Lebanon,
saying it forced them to withdraw.The Israeli military told AFP that more than
20 rockets and drones were launched from Lebanon on Saturday. Netanyahu
announced on Friday that Israeli forces had advanced beyond the Litani River,
which runs around 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Lebanon-Israel frontier,
and were “hitting Hezbollah head on.” The Lebanese health ministry says that
Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,371 people since March 2, when Hezbollah
drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in support of its backer Iran. Hezbollah
said it attacked Israel in retaliation for the death of Iran’s supreme leader in
US-Israeli strikes when the war erupted on February 28. Iran has insisted that
any agreement to end the wider Middle East war also cover Lebanon.
PM Salam: Israel pursuing widespread destruction, Lebanon
chose negotiations to protect its future
LBCI/May 30/2026
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the situation in Lebanon goes beyond
what he described as Israeli territorial expansion and incursions, arguing that
Israel is pursuing a policy of widespread destruction rather than targeting
specific sites.
Speaking on the ongoing conflict, Salam said Israel’s actions constitute not
only a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty but also “an attempt to erase
history.”He stressed that the war was imposed on Lebanon and has carried a high
cost for the country, adding that the government is determined to strengthen the
state and safeguard the future of the coming generations. “This war was imposed
on us, and its cost has been immense,” Salam said. “We are determined to fortify
our country and protect the future of our children so that Lebanon is not turned
into a bargaining chip in regional conflicts. That is why we decided to pursue
what we believe is the most appropriate option: negotiations.” Salam emphasized
that the Lebanese state is currently leading negotiations on behalf of all
Lebanese citizens and reiterated that decisions regarding war and peace remain a
national prerogative. He acknowledged that the negotiating path will not be
short, but argued that progress can be accelerated if all parties remain
committed to operating under the authority of the state.
Lebanon Finance Ministry clarifies aid figures: $50 million
to Social Affairs, broader aid exceeds hundreds of millions
LBCI/May 30/2026
Lebanon’s Finance Ministry said on Saturday that reports circulating in the
media quoting Finance Minister Yassine Jaber contained “incorrect figures,”
likely due to a misunderstanding or a lack of accurate follow-up on the
allocations made for supporting victims of Israeli attacks.
In a statement issued by its press office, the ministry clarified that the $50
million figure refers exclusively to funds allocated from the state treasury to
the Ministry of Social Affairs. It added that this amount is supplemented by
$200 million from the World Bank, €45 million, and an additional €32 million
from the European Union, all also directed to the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The ministry further said that tens of millions of dollars were disbursed
through the Ministry of Public Health to support the health sector, as well as
additional funding distributed via the High Relief Committee and the Council for
the South, which are responsible for relief operations. It also noted that
international assistance provided through the United Nations and humanitarian
organizations has exceeded $130 million.
Beyond Disarmament: How the IRGC Keeps Hezbollah in
Power Despite Its Military Losses
Hanin Ghaddar/The Washington Institute/May 30/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/154942/
Although disarming the group is still crucial, negotiators need to realize that
they will never really break Hezbollah’s hold on Lebanon so long as it retains
Iranian support and key political allies and government posts in Beirut.
With Israeli and Lebanese negotiators scheduled to meet again starting next
week, they face the sobering reality that disarming Hezbollah has been the main
obstacle in every previous round of talks. Since the November 2024 ceasefire
agreement, U.S. policy has focused on whether the Lebanese Armed Forces could,
or would, take on that mission. So far, LAF leaders have refused to confront the
group, and Israel cannot complete this task by itself even with substantial
military escalation. This impasse will continue complicating diplomacy until all
actors realize that dealing with the post-2024 Hezbollah requires a different
set of tools.
Shortly before the third round of talks opened earlier this month, Israeli
Ambassador Yechiel Leiter proposed a two-track framework to address this issue:
“One track is to conduct negotiations for full peace as though Hezbollah does
not exist—borders, embassies, visas, tourism, everything. An agreement like that
could be reached within a few months. But it would be contingent on the success
of the second track—dismantling Hezbollah.” Recent statements by Lebanese
President Joseph Aoun indicate that Beirut may see this as a good approach as
well. Indeed, disarmament should once again be a priority when each country
sends security delegations to meet at the Pentagon on May 29.
Yet neither Leiter’s proposal nor other recent efforts have addressed two other
major stumbling blocks:
The political decision. The Israeli and Lebanese governments must agree on a
security framework that includes guarantees to disarm Hezbollah. This is not
only about the LAF’s capabilities; it is also about the civilian leadership in
Beirut publicly making a clear political decision to proceed with disarming the
group even if that entails military confrontation. Although the Lebanese public
is concerned about potential armed hostilities with Hezbollah, they are much
more concerned about the prospect of having to fight that fight without U.S.
help against the group’s patrons in Iran. In their view, this scenario could
materialize soon if the Trump administration tries to end the Iran war with a
deal that releases billions of dollars to Tehran but does not address its
decades-long support for foreign terrorist proxies.
Hezbollah’s capacity to rearm. Even if the group were somehow completely
disarmed in the near term, Lebanon’s existing political and economic
circumstances ensure that Hezbollah would still have the capacity to rearm and
regenerate. Over the years—and with deepening direction and assistance from
Iran—the group has established a far-reaching ecosystem of military, political,
and financial power inside Lebanon. Targeting its military infrastructure while
ignoring the political and economic pillars is a recipe for helping Hezbollah
continue bouncing back after every conflict.
How Hezbollah Has Dug Into the State and Economy
With its military infrastructure substantially degraded, its communication
networks heavily infiltrated by Israeli intelligence, and its command structure
shattered, Hezbollah is a shaky, tired shadow of itself at the moment. Its goal
is to survive and rebuild while maintaining a minimal level of kinetic action
against Israel. One crucial factor in achieving this goal is continued Iranian
funding.
Despite all their mutual setbacks, Tehran was still able to send Hezbollah an
estimated $1 billion last year in the period between major Israeli campaigns.
The group used this money to import military materiel, produce more missiles and
large quantities of cheap, unjammable drones, recruit more fighters, and pay
salaries to its existing fighters and essential staff.
This influx was made possible in part by Hezbollah’s continued control over key
Lebanese security and financial channels—a situation enabled by its top
political ally Nabih Berri, who heads the Amal movement and has held onto his
post as speaker of parliament for more than three decades. When Lebanon formed a
new government in February 2025, Hezbollah—via Berri—insisted on choosing
friendly officials to head both the General Security Directorate (GSD) and the
Ministry of Finance.
As long as Hezbollah retains these domestic levers and access to its patrons in
Iran, it will find a way to rebuild. Its cash economy is still flourishing, and
its allies in Lebanon’s security, customs, and financial institutions enable it
to move money, import weapon components, and sneak in fighters from Iran and
elsewhere in the region. The only way to change this status quo is through a
comprehensive policy that incorporates soft power alongside coercive tools.
The IRGC Role
Given the blows Hezbollah has suffered since 2023, Tehran understands that the
group can no longer maintain its dominant role in Lebanon without help from
others—namely, patronage and protection from Berri, along with deeper, more
direct oversight by Iran’s own Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC’s
expanded role in Lebanon has in turn given Tehran even more bargaining chips and
leverage over key U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Of course, Hezbollah has always been a de facto arm of the IRGC, in part because
Iranian military leaders regard Lebanon as a central component of the regime’s
strategic depth in the region. Yet the IRGC dramatically tightened the leash
after Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah and many other top Hezbollah figures in
2024. Iranian leaders realized they might soon lose Hezbollah and, by extension,
their sway over Lebanon unless they essentially took over the group’s command
structure.
According to sources close to Hezbollah, the IRGC began deploying hundreds of
commanders to Lebanon in November 2024 to rebuild and restructure the group.
This effort resembled the IRGC’s late-1970s collaboration with Amal and
Palestine Liberation Organization elements inside Lebanon. Today, the IRGC
presence there is extensive. Israel has released the names of dozens of IRGC
officers killed in action throughout Lebanon, while social media obituaries
reveal various Syrian and Iraqi fighters killed there while operating in
Hezbollah units—evidence that the IRGC has employed its usual tactic of blending
and deploying fighters from Shia militias across the region whenever the need
arises.
Going forward, the IRGC’s Hezbollah strategy appears to be focused on three main
goals:
Survival: Making sure that despite its major losses so far, Hezbollah does not
fully surrender its weapons or military infrastructure.
Regeneration: Using Hezbollah’s levers within the Lebanese state—including its
influence over LAF elements, the GSD, the Customs Administration, and various
financial institutions—to guarantee that no matter how the U.S.-Iran and
Israel-Lebanon conflicts turn out, the group will retain its capacity to rearm.
Confrontation: Maintaining at least minimal Hezbollah attacks against Israel
while escalating the group’s tactics against internal opponents. As noted above,
Tehran and Hezbollah are hoping that when the Trump administration reaches a
deal to conclude the Iran war, it includes a ceasefire in Lebanon while
excluding any provisions on halting Iranian support for regional proxies. Such
an outcome would enable them to declare victory and, more important, push back
forcefully against further efforts to disarm Hezbollah and advance
Israel-Lebanon peace.
Unless Washington and its partners actively counter this strategy, Hezbollah
will have ample time and leverage to position itself for Lebanon’s next
parliamentary election in 2028. In that scenario, the group could quickly regain
much of what it has lost in the past three years.
Policy Recommendations
Although disarming Hezbollah necessarily remains a priority, it is not enough.
The Trump administration must look beyond weapons, addressing the group’s
broader ability to restore itself after the dust settles from the current crises
in Lebanon and Iran. Several steps will be crucial to this effort:
Delink Iran and Lebanon. As the Trump administration works to finalize the terms
of an agreement on ending the Iran war, it should not let Tehran introduce any
provisions related to the negotiations in Lebanon. Otherwise, the resultant Iran
deal could wind up undercutting Israel’s efforts to weaken Hezbollah, defanging
Beirut’s efforts to delegitimize the group’s weapons, and spoiling Washington’s
own vision of achieving peace between Lebanon and Israel.
Offer carrots to Beirut, not just sticks. So far, the Trump administration has
essentially told Lebanon that it needs to make a choice on Hezbollah or lose
Washington’s attention. Yet this approach has not been effective at getting
Beirut to take action on the ground. Instead, U.S. officials should present the
Lebanese government with a basket of carrots and sticks aimed at eroding all of
Hezbollah’s pillars of power.
For example, potential carrots could include more assistance to the LAF, more
financial and humanitarian aid for citizens displaced by the conflict, help with
reforming the financial and security institutions that Hezbollah has
infiltrated, and discussions about reconstruction plans. Yet if Beirut fails to
fully implement its ceasefire commitments, disarm Hezbollah, and make progress
on internal reforms, Washington should make clear that it will levy more
sanctions against Lebanon and reconsider security assistance.
At the same time, the United States should assure Lebanese officials that they
will not be abandoned if Hezbollah opts for military confrontation with the
state. On the contrary, Lebanon should get all the assistance it needs—military
or otherwise—if it demonstrates a willingness to deal with the group’s arms.
This could take the form of a security agreement with clearer deliverables,
timeframes, and benchmarks; for example, Washington could commit to increased
military and financial assistance once the LAF resumes disarmament operations
north of the Litani River.
Target Hezbollah’s allies, engage its Shia base. Last week’s U.S. Treasury
announcement of sanctions against various Hezbollah officials and enablers was a
good step that sent clear messages to both Nabih Berri and Hezbollah’s proxies
in the LAF and GSD. Yet these sanctions need to be followed up with specific
messaging about what is expected of Lebanese institutions going forward—and what
will happen to Berri and other enablers if these expectations are not met. For
instance, Washington could spell out its red lines regarding the IRGC’s presence
in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s cash network, and future appointments within key state
institutions.
Berri in particular should be made to understand that the risks of supporting
Hezbollah outweigh the benefits. Currently, he benefits from Hezbollah in two
ways: politically, he is strengthened by the group’s presence in government and
by its support during parliamentary and municipal elections; financially, he has
become the protector (and, by extension, a major beneficiary) of Hezbollah’s
cash network. The Trump administration’s most effective tool for swaying Berri
and his circle is targeted sanctions—progressing from Amal officials to their
family members and personal financial assets.
To further erode Hezbollah’s political pillar, Washington and its partners could
discuss ways of engaging the group’s Shia base. For example, they could
discreetly support domestic Shia opposition to Hezbollah, provide other economic
options to the wider Lebanese Shia community, and help independent media shape
alternatives to Hezbollah narratives.
Strengthen the CENTCOM mechanism. Another way to help overcome the disarmament
impasse is by strengthening the U.S. presence in Lebanon, mainly via U.S.
Central Command and the ceasefire monitoring mechanism it helped establish in
2024. If a new ceasefire agreement is reached, monitoring and assessing LAF
operations in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces will be crucial. In
that case, the LAF should be asked to propose a new disarmament plan through the
CENTCOM mechanism—one with a faster timeline than its 2025 plan.
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/beyond-disarmament-how-irgc-keeps-hezbollah-power-despite-its-military-losses
**Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute’s
Rubin Program on Arab Politics and coauthor of its 2025 report “A Roadmap for
Israel-Lebanon Peace.”
Liberation Day — or
Displacement Day?
Makram Rabah/Now Lebanon/May 30/2026
“Eid, in what condition have you returned, O Eid?”
May 25 has returned, not as a day of liberation, but as yet another occasion
reminding the Lebanese that Hezbollah has not only confiscated the decision of
war and peace, but has also confiscated joy itself. It has drained happiness
from public life and made it impossible for the Lebanese to smile, breathe, or
remember a national occasion without turning it into a military bulletin, a
sectarian elegy, and a speech of internal intimidation wrapped in a surplus of
illusion. Liberation Day was supposed to be a shared national space. It was
meant to be a moment in which the Lebanese could celebrate the Israeli
withdrawal from their land in the year 2000, and affirm that the Lebanese state,
despite all its weaknesses and failures, must reclaim its sovereignty over all
its borders and all its territory. But Hezbollah, as always, cannot tolerate
national occasions unless it transforms them into private property. Liberation,
for the party, is not a Lebanese achievement. It is an exclusive franchise. The
South is not a part of Lebanon, but Hezbollah’s permanent stage for bloodshed,
rubble, and recorded speeches.
Naim Qassem, Hezbollah Secretary General’s, latest speech was not a victory
speech. It was a long exercise in denial. He spoke as though Lebanon were living
through a national wedding, as though the South were fine, as though hundreds of
villages had not been crushed, and as though more than a million and a half
Shiites from the South, the southern suburbs, and the Bekaa had not been turned
into displaced people inside their own country—waiting for a promise that never
arrives, compensation that never comes, and homes that will never be restored as
they once were.
Hezbollah speaks of destroyed tanks and burned vehicles, but it refuses to
answer the simplest question: who will return the people of the South to their
homes? Who will give them back the memories buried under the rubble? Who will
restore the smell of figs, olives, and tobacco? Who will return the photographs
of grandparents that once hung on walls that no longer exist?
The party’s propaganda machine celebrates what it calls “battleground
achievements.” Astonishing, this kind of celebration, while villages lie
destroyed and families are scattered. What kind of steadfastness is this when
homes and memories have become debris? What kind of sacrifice is this when the
children of the South are outside their schools? Is this also part of the
battle? As if people are expected to applaud the loss of their own lives, and
thank the very force that dragged them into war because it promised them, in one
speech after another, that victory was coming—or that a possible
American-Iranian agreement, or some anticipated memorandum of understanding,
would arrive like a miracle at the end of days. Here lies the obscene paradox.
Hezbollah curses America by day and waits for its signature by night. It insults
the American mediator, yet builds its calculations on an American-Iranian
understanding. It attacks the Lebanese state for not objecting loudly enough,
while admitting, without realizing it, that its real decision does not lie in
Beirut, Bint Jbeil, or Tyre, but in Tehran and Washington
Here lies the obscene paradox. Hezbollah curses America by day and waits for its
signature by night. It insults the American mediator, yet builds its
calculations on an American-Iranian understanding. It attacks the Lebanese state
for not objecting loudly enough, while admitting, without realizing it, that its
real decision does not lie in Beirut, Bint Jbeil, or Tyre, but in Tehran and
Washington. What kind of “resistance” waits for salvation from a deal between
the very power it calls the “Great Satan” and the regime it treats as its
political and military guardian?
The most dangerous element in Qassem’s speech is not merely the scale of
illusion, but the function of the weapon hidden between the lines. The weapon is
no longer directed primarily at Israel; it has become a message to the Lebanese
interior. Anyone who refuses Hezbollah’s narrative becomes, in practice, a
partner in the Israeli project. Anyone who demands the monopoly of arms by the
state becomes a knife in the back. Anyone who asks about sovereignty, the
constitution, or the state becomes an American tool.
This is not resistance. It is armed blackmail. This is not a defense strategy.
It is an open declaration that the weapon will remain above the state, above the
constitution, and above people’s lives and fate—until Hezbollah alone decides
when war ends, when negotiations begin, and when the Lebanese are allowed to
raise their voices. This is not resistance. It is armed blackmail. This is not a
defense strategy. It is an open declaration that the weapon will remain above
the state, above the constitution, and above people’s lives and fate—until
Hezbollah alone decides when war ends, when negotiations begin, and when the
Lebanese are allowed to raise their voices.
Hezbollah has succeeded in one thing that cannot be denied: it has turned
Liberation Day into a national memory celebrated in a time of misery, calamity,
and destruction caused by the party’s own practices. It has stolen from the
Lebanese the meaning of victory, just as it stripped the state of its meaning.
It has turned liberation into an occasion for threats rather than joy, for
accusations of treason rather than reconciliation, for glorifying destruction
rather than protecting people.
Even happiness has become suspicious in Hezbollah’s dictionary. Even a joke is
now treason. Even a question is a conspiracy.
As for the people of the South, especially the Shiite community Hezbollah claims
to protect, they are paying the heaviest price. They are not a theatrical
audience. They are human beings. They have homes, livelihoods, dreams, and
memories that carry all their losses
As for the people of the South, especially the Shiite community Hezbollah claims
to protect, they are paying the heaviest price. They are not a theatrical
audience. They are human beings. They have homes, livelihoods, dreams, and
memories that carry all their losses. The people of the South cannot be reduced
to the image of a fighter, a martyr’s banner, or a propaganda clip of a drone.
Their dignity is not protected by keeping them displaced forever so that
Hezbollah can keep its weapons forever.
Eid, in what condition have you returned, O Eid?
You have returned while Lebanon is robbed of joy, while the South is devastated,
its homes destroyed, while the state has been stripped of its decision, and
while Hezbollah remains trapped in its own delusion.
You have returned to remind us of the truth everyone tries to avoid: whoever
corrupts the meaning of liberation corrupts the entire nation. And whoever turns
victory into permanent war does not liberate land. He occupies people’s lives.
Makram Rabah is the managing editor at Now Lebanon and an Assistant Professor at
the American University of Beirut, Department of History. His book Conflict on
Mount Lebanon: The Druze, the Maronites and Collective Memory (Edinburgh
University Press) covers collective identities and the Lebanese Civil War. He
tweets at @makramrabah
*This article was originally published in Elaph. '
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on 30-31 May/2026
US warns capable of resuming war with Iran as deal remains elusive
Agence France Presse/May 30/2026
The United States warned on Saturday it was "more than capable" of resuming war
with Iran after President Donald Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his
red lines, including Tehran never being able to develop nuclear weapons. The
White House had signalled Trump was close to a decision on an initial deal after
weeks of mixed signals in tenuous negotiations, though Tehran denied there was a
final agreement on ending the Middle East conflict that has jolted the global
economy. U.S. sources had told AFP the deal was waiting on Trump's sign-off, but
the president had made no decision after a two-hour meeting in the White House
Situation Room on Friday in Washington. Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth,
while attending a major Asia defence summit in Singapore, said on Saturday local
time that Washington could restart the war if it wanted. "Our ability to
recommence if necessary is (that) we are more than capable, our stockpiles are
more than suited for that, both there and around the globe because of how we
balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions," he said. That echoed the U.S.
Central Comand (CENTCOM), which posted on X that American forces "remain present
and vigilant across the region." The efforts to strike a deal mediated by
Pakistan, were thrown into question this week by US strikes on the southern
Iranian port of Bandar Abbas countered by retaliatory fire from Iran.
Nevertheless diplomacy continued including in a parallel process to stop
fighting in Lebanon - which Iran has insisted be included in any formal end to
the war and where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israeli
forces had advanced further even as military delegations from both nations met
at the Pentagon in Washington. Trump's priorities in any deal included Iran
agreeing to never developing nuclear weapons and the re-opening of the blockaded
Strait of Hormuz maritime route, he said in a social media post in which he also
announced the Situation Room meeting. "President Trump will only make a deal
that is good for America and satisfies his red lines," a White House official
told AFP after the meeting.
"Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon," the official added.
Competing conditions -
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei pushed back on Trump's
conditions, telling state media that the Islamic republic "said goodbye to the
language of 'must' 47 years ago."Exchanges of messages were continuing, he
added, but "no final agreement has been reached yet." In a phone call with the
Emir of Qatar, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to
achieve a "dignified framework" to end the war, according to state news agency
IRNA. In his post, Trump said Tehran would remove mines from the Strait of
Hormuz and end its closure of the waterway with "no tolls," while the U.S. would
lift its parallel blockade of Iranian ports. The two countries would also
coordinate on removing and destroying Iran's enriched uranium, he said, adding
that "no money will be exchanged, until further notice." Iran's Fars news
agency, however, cited sources as saying Tehran was demanding "the immediate
release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets" before moving to the next phase
of negotiations. On the toll-free reopening of Hormuz, the sources said "no such
clause appears in the text of the agreement," while Trump's comment on
destroying Iran's nuclear material "is fundamentally baseless." Ali, a resident
of the city of Tonekabon north of Tehran, said there would likely be more strife
to come. "Both sides are speaking in a way that keeps their supporters
satisfied. It's not clear who is telling the truth," the 49-year-old said.
Khamenei adviser says Trump ‘betraying diplomacy’ with
blockade and excessive demands
Agencies/30 May ,2026
Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said on
Saturday that US President Donald Trump was “betraying diplomacy for the third
time” by continuing a naval blockade imposed on Iran and making what he
described as excessive demands in negotiations.
The United States warned it was “more than capable” of resuming war with Iran
after Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his red lines, including Tehran
never being able to develop nuclear weapons. The White House had signaled Trump
was close to a decision on an initial deal after weeks of mixed signals in
tenuous negotiations, though Tehran denied there was a final agreement on ending
the Middle East conflict that has jolted the global economy.
US says it disables another commercial ship trying to
breach blockade and reach Iran
The Associated Press/30 May ,2026
The US military has stopped another merchant vessel trying to break through the
American blockade of Iranian ports, a US official with knowledge of the
situation told The Associated Press on Saturday. The Gambia-flagged bulk carrier
Lian Star ignored multiple warnings from US forces overnight as it tried to
enter an Iranian port, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to
discuss military operations. The ship was disabled by US aircraft in the Gulf of
Oman and remains adrift there, the official said, adding that US forces have not
boarded it.
With the latest action, US military has stopped six ships trying to breach the
blockade. One was allowed to proceed. The US launched the blockade on April 17
in response to Iran effectively closing the strait after the war began with US
and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. A fragile ceasefire has held since April 7. Now
the region and wider world await word on whether a deal is being reached to
extend it by 60 days while new talks would be held on Iran’s disputed nuclear
program. Events in Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman have shaken the global
economy, with shipments of significant amounts of oil, natural gas and related
supplies like fertilizer largely stranded, increasing the strain on consumers
and food producers.The US blockade seeks to limit Iran’s own shipments and
further weaken its access to cash, creating more pain for its long-weakened
economy. US President Donald Trump met with advisers on Friday but has yet to
decide on whether to move ahead with a deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen
the strait. Iran has said the deal had not been finalized.
Oman Maritime Security Centre warns of suspected sea mine
in Strait of Hormuz
Reuters/30 May ,2026
Oman’s Maritime Security Center on Saturday urged seafarers, fishermen and
vessels to exercise utmost caution after a floating object suspected to be a
naval mine was sighted west of the Inshore Traffic Zone in the Strait of Hormuz
within Omani territorial waters.
The center advised maritime users to keep a safe distance from any suspicious
objects and report them immediately to the relevant authorities.
Kataeb Hezbollah vows to keep arms as Iraq faces US
pressure to disarm groups
AFP/May 30, 2026
BAGHDAD: The influential Iraqi armed group Kataeb Hezbollah pledged on Saturday
to keep up its “militant action,” as Baghdad faces mounting US pressure to
disarm factions backed by Iran.Following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on
Iran at the end of February, groups operating under the banner of the “Islamic
Resistance in Iraq” carried out repeated drone and rocket attacks on US
interests in the country. Washington, in turn, bombed facilities and bases
belonging to the groups, including Kataeb Hezbollah, killing dozens of their
members.
Since taking office in mid-May, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has pledged to
restrict weapons to the hands of the state. But in a statement on Saturday,
Kataeb Hezbollah security chief Abu Mujahid Al-Assaf said “militant action is
today a collective duty, and we will carry it out on behalf of the brothers who
have decided to abandon it.”While some factions have agreed to operate under
state institutions, others, like Kataeb Hezbollah, refuse to discuss disarmament
under US pressure. Assaf suggested that Kataeb Hezbollah was willing to work
with those other groups, and was “also prepared to pay for” weapons they no
longer needed. He said his group was ready “to cooperate and play a constructive
role” by supervising the transfer and storage of weapons, and receiving
specialized weapons such as cruise missiles, for which “there are no experts
within state agencies.”Kataeb Hezbollah insists it will not discuss its weapons
so long as foreign forces remain deployed in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region as
part of a US-led international coalition formed in 2014 to fight militants. The
coalition is scheduled to end its mission in the Kurdistan region by September.
Palestinian killed, others injured in Israeli airstrike on Deir Al-Balah
AFP/May 30, 2026
GAZA: A Palestinian was killed and several others injured on Saturday in an
Israeli airstrike targeting the city of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
Israeli warplanes carried out the attack on the city. Medical sources in the
Gaza Strip announced on Saturday that the death toll from the Israeli military
offensive on Gaza had risen to 72,938 Palestinians killed and 172,919 injured
since October 2023.
FASTFACT
Since a fragile ceasefire came into effect last October, 922 people have been
killed in Gaza and 2,786 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health
Ministry. According to the sources, hospitals across the Gaza Strip received the
bodies of seven Palestinians over the past 24 hours, including six newly killed
victims and one person who succumbed to previous injuries. Another 25 wounded
Palestinians were also admitted for treatment. The sources added that since the
start of the current ceasefire on Oct. 11, 2025, the number of Palestinians
killed had reached 929, while the number of injuries had risen to 2,811. In
addition, 781 bodies have been recovered from different areas of the Strip.
Health authorities said that an unknown number of victims remain trapped beneath
the rubble or lying in inaccessible areas, as ambulance and rescue teams
continue to face difficulties reaching them due to ongoing hostilities and
dangerous conditions on the ground. An Israeli strike recently killed Mohammed
Odeh, the newly appointed leader of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades,
less than two weeks after his predecessor was also killed.Hamas accused Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday of a “blatant violation” of the
October 2025 ceasefire after he ordered the army to seize more territory in the
Gaza Strip.
“In a blatant violation of all agreements, as is their usual practice, Netanyahu
announced expanding control over 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, while the killing
and starvation continue,” Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim said. Hamas
spokesman, Hazem Qassem, also condemned the “complete silence” of the Board of
Peace and its high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, on the topic.
Failing to condemn Israel’s expansionist policies and forced displacement plans
raised serious questions about the extent of the sponsoring parties’ commitment
to making Israel adhere to its obligations under the ceasefire deal, Qassem said
in a separate statement.
US planning faster troop withdrawal from Europe
LBCI/May 30/2026
The U.S. plans to accelerate the withdrawal of troops from bases in Europe and
will present its proposals to NATO allies next month, German newspaper Welt am
Sonntag reported on Saturday, citing an unidentified Pentagon source. Washington
announced plans in May to pull 5,000 troops out of Germany, widely seen as the
consequence of a rift over the Iran war between President Donald Trump and
European powers. Germany is home to some 35,000 active-duty U.S. military
personnel, more than anywhere else in Europe.
At the time, the Pentagon said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over
six to 12 months. Welt am Sonntag did not provide details on how much faster the
withdrawal would be, or which locations might be affected. The U.S. is due to
present its plans to allies at next month's North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) Force Sourcing Conference, it said. The Pentagon did not immediately
respond to a request for comment. Reuters
UK’s Burnham weighs snap election if he becomes PM: Report
Reuters/30 May ,2026
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is considering holding a snap general
election if he becomes British prime minister, the Sun newspaper reported on
Saturday.He is also lining up British interior minister Shabana Mahmood to be
his chancellor, the newspaper reported, citing Labor insiders. Reuters could not
immediately verify the report.
Hegseth sounds ‘alarm’ over China’s buildup, urges allies
to boost defense spend
Reuters/30 May ,2026
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday urged Asian allies to ramp up
military spending to counter China’s growing power and prevent its dominance in
the region, warning of “rightful alarm” over its rapid military buildup.
Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier forum
for defense leaders, militaries and diplomats, said a stronger, more
self-reliant network of allies is essential to deter aggression and preserve the
balance of power. “There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military
buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,”
he said. “A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance
of power,” Hegseth said. “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and
hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.” The
US expects its Asian allies and partners to increase defense spending to 3.5% of
GDP as it pledged a $1.5 trillion investment in its military, the Pentagon chief
said. “Less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs,” Hegseth said, and stressed that
allies want stability, not escalation. “What they want, and what the United
States delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and
leadership that is confident enough to speak and walk softly while carrying a
big stick.”Hegseth also struck a measured tone on US-China ties, saying
relations are “better than they have been in many years,” with more frequent
military-to-military engagement helping to manage tensions. “We are meeting more
frequently with our Chinese counterparts by maintaining open lines of
military-to-military communication.”Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua
University and retired People’s Liberation Army senior colonel who was part of
the Chinese delegation, described US-China relations as “complicated.”
Nonetheless, he said Hegseth struck “a much better tone” this year than last,
attributing the shift to Trump’s visit to China. “Both sides have open channels
of communication, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes
it out to be,” Zhou said. China, whose defense minister is skipping the dialogue
for a second consecutive year, accused Hegseth last year of making “vilifying”
remarks.
“No freeloading”
Hegseth echoed President Donald Trump’s long-standing demand that allies
shoulder more of their own defense costs. Trump has pointedly said European and
NATO partners should reduce reliance on Washington. “The era of the United
States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over,” Hegseth said. “We
need partners, not protectorates,” he added. “We don’t have a strong alliance
unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”Hegseth praised
contributions from allies including South Korea, the Philippines, Australia,
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and said Japan was taking concrete steps to
bolster its defenses. Tokyo and Washington “must each pull our weight to
strengthen the US-Japan alliance,” he said.
Ready to restart strikes on Iran
On the Middle East conflict, Hegseth said the United States stands ready to
resume strikes on Iran if diplomacy fails, as negotiators from Washington and
Tehran work to bridge major differences blocking a deal. “Our ability to
recommence if necessary...we are more than capable,” Hegseth said. He added that
Trump remains “patient” and is seeking a “strong deal” to ensure Iran does not
obtain a nuclear weapon. Trump said on Friday he would convene advisers in a
secure White House setting to make a “final determination” on a proposal to end
the Iran war. Hegseth also pushed back on concerns the conflict would distract
from Asia-Pacific priorities. “We can do two things at one time.” Arms sales
decision to Taiwan is Trump’s call. Asked about arms sales to Taiwan, Hegseth
downplayed concerns that a multi-billion-dollar package could be affected as the
United States draws down its weapons stockpiles amid the Middle East conflict.
“We feel very good about our stockpiles and how we use them,” he said. Taiwan,
which China views as its own territory, has been waiting for the US to approve
an arms sale that Reuters reported could be worth up to $14 billion. Trump sowed
uncertainty in Taipei by saying, after meeting China’s President Xi Jinping this
month, that he was undecided on whether to approve the package. Any decision on
future arms sales would rest with President Trump, Hegseth said, signaling no
shift in Washington’s longstanding approach despite recent engagement with
Beijing. “Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that
relationship,” Hegseth said. “There’s been no change in our status.”
Russia recalls envoy to Armenia for 'consultations' over Yerevan's EU ties
Agence France Presse/May 30/2026
Russia said Saturday it had recalled its ambassador to Armenia for
"consultations" over Yerevan's growing ties with the EU, a day after President
Vladimir Putin warned the Caucasus country against pivoting to Brussels. Armenia
has angered the Kremlin by warming ties with the EU in recent years, frustrated
with Russia's perceived failure to protect it during conflicts with Azerbaijan.
"The Russian ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, S. Kopyrkin, has been
recalled to Moscow for consultations on steps taken by the Armenian leadership
on a rapprochement with the European Union, undermining cooperation within
Eurasian Economic Union," Moscow's foreign ministry said in a statement,
referencing the Russian-led customs union. The diplomat was called back after
Putin escalated his rhetoric on Armenia during a summit with allies. Speaking in
Kazakhstan on Friday, Putin said the "Ukrainian scenario" began with Kyiv trying
to join the EU and called on Armenia to hold a referendum on the issue "as soon
as possible". Putin said Armenia had to choose between the EU and the EEU, as it
was "impossible to reconcile the two". Armenia will hold an election next Sunday
in a test of the premiership of Nikol Pashinyan, who has pursued ties with both
Russia and the West. Armenia held a European summit earlier this month, with the
EU hailing a "leap forward" in ties.
Russia’s Rosatom says Ukrainian drone struck Zaporizhzhia
nuclear plant
Reuters/30 May ,2026
Russia’s state nuclear energy company Rosatom said on Saturday a Ukrainian drone
had struck the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest,
causing no damage to key equipment, but leaving a hole in the wall of a turbine
hall. “This afternoon, a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall
building of Power Unit No. 6, resulting in a subsequent detonation,” Rosatom’s
head Alexei Likhachev said in a statement. “The explosion caused no damage to
the primary equipment; however, it tore a hole in the turbine hall wall.” There
was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Likhachev called the incident “deliberate.”The
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was captured by Russia in March 2022 and remains
close to the frontline in the southeastern Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia region. It has
occasionally come under fire during the four-year-long war, raising fears of a
nuclear accident at the facility. “We are one step closer to an incident that
will most likely affect even those who live far beyond the borders of Russia and
Ukraine and still think they are completely safe,” Likhachev said.
Ousted Turkish opposition leader Ozel draws thousands in Ankara protest
LBCI/May 30/2026
Turkey's ousted opposition leader Ozgur Ozel showed he can still command strong
support on Saturday, drawing a crowd of thousands in Ankara despite a court
ruling that removed him from office and dealt a blow to President Tayyip
Erdogan's challengers. After addressing supporters - estimated in the tens of
thousands by the private Anka news agency and media outlets close to the
opposition - Ozel led a march through the capital following last week's ruling
that removed him as leader of the main opposition CHP. The court annulled the
CHP's 2023 party congress, effectively reinstating former chairman Kemal
Kilicdaroglu - a divisive figure within the party who lost to Erdogan in an
election earlier that year. The move could boost Erdogan's chances of extending
his more than two-decade rule of the NATO member country and major emerging
market economy. Reuters
Trump in excellent health with leg swelling, hand bruising, but should lose
weight: Doctor
AFP/30 May ,2026
Donald Trump’s doctor said he was in “excellent health” but advised him to lose
weight, the White House said Friday, after the US president’s annual medical
check-up weeks before his 80th birthday. Republican Trump, the oldest president
ever inaugurated, has repeatedly boasted about his mental and physical vigor
compared to his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. But Trump’s medical and dental
check-up on Tuesday at the Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington
followed questions about his apparent sleepiness in meetings and bruising on his
hand. “President Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong
cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function,” said Trump’s
doctor, US Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, in a memo published by the White House.
The three-page memo provides an overview of Trump’s physical examination and
diagnostic testing, in which Barbabella concludes that the leader is “fully fit
to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of
State.”“Preventative counseling was provided, including guidance on diet,
recommendation to take a low-dose aspirin, increased physical activity, and
continued weight loss,” it said. According to the memo, Trump - who stands at
six foot three inches (191 cm) tall - weighs 238 pounds (108 kilograms), 14
pounds (6.4 kilograms) higher than his last full annual medical in April last
year. Trump’s cardiac age is estimated to be “approximately 14 years younger
than his chronological age.”Trump scored “30 out of 30” in the cognitive
assessment. The president has spoken dozens of times about “acing” a cognitive
test that he claims his predecessors have not taken.
‘Frequent handshaking’
Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, is on three medications, two of which are
designated for cholesterol control and the third being aspirin for “cardiac
prevention.”Since returning to office, the Republican has often appeared with
bruising on his right hand, usually covered with make-up. “Examination of the
dorsal hands revealed ecchymosis (bruising), consistent with minor soft tissue
irritation related to frequent handshaking in the setting of aspirin use for
cardiovascular prevention,” the memo said regarding Trump’s bruised hands.
During a number of White House events, the president has also been seen
apparently closing his eyes for several seconds, although he has repeatedly
denied dozing off. Last summer, the White House disclosed that he had been
evaluated for swelling in his legs and diagnosed with chronic venous
insufficiency -- a common condition in which faulty vein valves allow blood to
pool, causing swelling, cramping and skin changes. The revelation came after
Trump was seen with swollen ankles on a number of occasions. The memo also noted
“scarring of the right ear consistent with prior gunshot injury.”Trump was the
target of an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in
2024. A gunman fired several shots, killing a rally goer and lightly wounding
the president in the ear.
‘Perfect’ health
Trump, for his part, said Tuesday’s medical went “PERFECTLY” in a post on his
Truth Social platform shortly after the appointment. The White House later
posted a picture of him on social media with the caption: “PERFECT BILL OF
HEALTH!”Following the president’s check-up, US media reported that the White
House had broken with precedent by not releasing the report, before it did so
three days later. The White House normally releases a summary of presidential
physicals within hours or days, but the extent of the detail it gives is
entirely at its own discretion. Trump has long been accused of a lack of
transparency about his health -- and the chronology of his various check-ups
during his second term has only added to the confusion. He referred to Tuesday’s
appointment as a “six-month physical,” despite the White House billing it as an
annual dental and medical examination in an announcement earlier this month.
Tuesday’s medical examination was Trump’s third since returning to office last
year. Trump’s last scheduled annual check-up was in April last year. But it was
followed by an unannounced hospital visit that October, which the White House
then also described as an annual physical.
US expels new group of west Africans to Ghana, lawyer says
Al Arabiya English/30 May ,2026
Another group of west Africans has been sent to Ghana by the United States,
including at least one with deportation protections, a lawyer involved with the
case told AFP Saturday. US President Donald Trump has pursued a vast immigration
crackdown, including the deportation of people who typically would have been
allowed to stay in the United States under previous administrations. He has also
pursued “third country” agreements that allow the United States to send people
to countries where they have no ties.Ghana since last year has been taking west
Africans temporarily before sending them to home countries, including people who
US immigration judges found would face persecution in their origin nations.
Ghana has also previously dumped deportees in neighboring Togo, without
documents. The exact number in the latest batch of deportees was unknown, but
Meredyth Yoon, a US-based lawyer associated with one of the deportation cases,
said they arrived Thursday. Ghanaian immigration services did not immediately
respond to an AFP request for comment. The person whose case Yoon is associated
with, a Guinean man, had deportation protections, the lawyer said. The man had
“withholding of removal,” a legal protection that is weaker than asylum but, in
the past, has superseded someone’s deportation order, allowing them to live and
work in the United States.
Fears they will be sent on
The US had previously sent deportees with similar protections to the West
African nation. The Trump administration has argued that it is only barred from
sending people with withholding or other similar statuses to their home
countries, and not to a third country.
Ghana is not bound by US immigration law, and has forwarded people with US
protections to origin, according to US court documents. Among the new deportees,
there are fears “they could all be deported back to their countries as soon as
tomorrow,” Yoon said.
The most recent flight comes after at least 42 people arrived in Ghana last
year, according to a previous tally by a Ghanaian rights group. Washington and
Accra have not made the actual number public. Previous deportees were held in
secret at a military base outside Accra by armed guards. Some were dumped in
Togo, where they live to this day without documents. Trump won the 2024 US
presidential election on promises of launching “the largest deportation program
of criminals in the history of America.” In addition to pushing third-country
deportations, he has slashed his country’s asylum and refugee programs. With AFP
Brazil investigates suspected Ebola case in Sao Paulo
LBCI/May 30/2026
Health authorities in Brazil's Sao Paulo state are investigating a suspected
case of Ebola reported on Saturday in the state capital, officials said. A man
from the Democratic Republic of Congo presented with a fever after recently
visiting the African country, which is experiencing an Ebola outbreak. The
patient is in isolation at a hospital specializing in the care of suspected or
confirmed cases of the disease, authorities said in a statement. Reuters
on 30-31 May/2026
Tehran seems just as enthusiastic about the new prime minister as
Washington—a telling sign that the militia-dominated status quo in Baghdad will
be difficult and slow to change, if it changes at all.
David Schenker/ The Washington Institute/May 30/2026
On May 14, U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack congratulated Iraq’s new prime
minister Ali al-Zaidi on the seating of his government, noting that the Trump
administration was “encouraged” by the premier’s “fresh leadership” and was
looking forward to working with him on “shared goals” like fighting terrorism
and building an Iraq “at peace with its neighbors.” Barrack’s praise echoed
President Trump’s April declaration that Zaidi’s appointment marked “the
beginning of a tremendous new chapter between our Nations.” On May 17, however,
Iraqi militia elements launched drone salvos at Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates, scoring a hit on the latter’s Barakah nuclear power site.
The targeting of Gulf states by Iran-backed factions of Iraq’s Popular
Mobilization Forces (PMF) is not new. These U.S.-designated terrorist
organizations have been firing missiles and drones into the Arabian Peninsula
since the start of the Iran war, and have also routinely targeted U.S. military
and diplomatic personnel in Iraq for years, later broadening these attacks to
U.S. facilities elsewhere in the region.
Coming at the start of his premiership, the Gulf attacks pose a challenging
first test for Zaidi. Baghdad’s evolving response will provide an early
indication of whether his government plans to chart a new, sovereign future for
Iraq or continue with business as usual by kowtowing to pro-Iranian factions.
U.S., Iran Both Enthusiastic About Zaidi
Five months after the parliamentary election, Iraq’s leading parties finally
reached consensus on a new prime minister and most of his cabinet. Zaidi was a
surprise choice. A prominent young businessman with no political experience, he
made his fortune from supplying commodities included in Iraq’s
government-subsidized food baskets—a Saddam-era program that continues to
provide monthly staples to millions. He also owned Al Janoob Islamic Bank, an
institution that the Central Bank of Iraq prohibited from conducting dollar
transactions in 2024 amid pressure from the U.S. Treasury Department and
allegations of terrorist links.
While Washington is bullish on Zaidi’s new government, Tehran seems equally
enthusiastic. Several senior Iranian officials offered congratulations to the
new premier, with President Masoud Pezeshkian expressing hope that Zaidi’s
government would “usher in a new phase of strategic cooperation” with the
Islamic Republic. Zaidi also secured unanimous support from the Coordination
Framework, the Shia parliamentary bloc that supports and includes
representatives from the Iran-backed U.S.-designated terrorist organizations
Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, and Kataib Hezbollah.
Rounding Up the Usual Suspects?
On May 21, Zaidi stated that his government would be launching an investigation
into the “criminal” drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Yet he also noted
that the decision to form an “elite investigative committee” was made at his
first meeting with the Ministerial Council for National Security—the same Shia-dominated
body that authorized Iran-backed PMF factions to respond forcefully to U.S.
strikes when some of their facilities and personnel were targeted in the early
days of the Iran war.
Zaidi’s investigation will join the dozens of other Iraqi government inquiries
into drone and missile attacks launched against Kurds, U.S. facilities, and Arab
states during the war. At least some of these attacks have been claimed by the
“Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” a front for several of the Iran-backed PMF
factions named above. Despite seemingly promising leads, however, none of
Baghdad’s official inquiries has been concluded to date.
That is no doubt because Iraq’s security apparatus and government continue to be
dominated by officials who are friendly to Iran and the militias, making
accountability exceedingly rare. Zaidi has pledged to “take all security and
legal measures against those involved”—and with good reason given that Iraq’s
relations with the targeted Gulf states may lie in the balance. Yet even if his
intentions are sincere, he is unlikely to make much progress toward apprehending
any suspects, let alone prosecuting them. After all, the organizations behind
these attacks are members of his governing coalition.
Iran Doubling Down on Iraq
So far, Zaidi has only filled fourteen of twenty-three positions on his cabinet,
with key ministries such as defense and interior still vacant due to their
importance and sensitivity. Washington and Tehran are keeping a close eye on
these appointments given the potential policy implications.
Most notably, the Trump administration is pushing Iraq to prioritize disarmament
of Iran-backed militias, but Tehran is pushing back. During one of his routine
visits to Baghdad earlier this month, Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani, the head of
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, reportedly warned
Coordination Framework groups “not to make concessions to the United States
about disarming the militias in order to take government posts.” So far, only
one of Zaidi’s cabinet members appears to be militia-adjacent: Minister of
Telecommunications Mustafa Sanad, who is reportedly linked to Kataib Hezbollah.
Iraqi PMF factions have become an even more important element of the Iranian
regime’s Middle East support network after Israeli military operations greatly
degraded the regime’s top proxy, Lebanese Hezbollah. Tehran is keen on ensuring
that the new government remains Iran-friendly and militia-friendly. Even before
the current war, Tehran sought to scuttle major Arab financial investments in
Iraq out of concern they might limit Iranian influence and presence, especially
in Sunni Arab-majority regions of the state. In September 2025, Coordination
Framework representatives in parliament blocked up to $100 billion worth of
Saudi investments, many of them intended for Iraqi Sunni regions along their
shared border. Riyadh had hoped to secure the frontier against Shia militias and
cement ties with Iraqi Sunnis through investment.
Meanwhile, Shia militias and Iranian forces have collectively targeted the
Kurdistan Region of Iraq with over 800 missiles and drones during the war, but
this did not stop the Erbil-based Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the
Sulaymaniyah-centered Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) from joining Zaidi’s
Iran-backed government. Iraq’s leading Sunni political grouping—Mohamed al-Halbousi’s
Taqaddum alliance—joined as well, even though his home province of Anbar was one
of the regions that lost out on billions in Saudi investments due to Iran’s
interference. Apparently, neither the Kurds nor the Sunni Arabs felt they could
afford to be outside the tent of the new Iraqi government.
Policy Recommendations
Less than a month into his mandate, the jury is still out on Ali al-Zaidi. The
deep state exists in Iraq and is largely controlled by Iran, so a political
novice like Zaidi will have a hard time trying to steer the ship in a new
direction even if he is so inclined.
For one thing, he almost certainly came to power based on support from Supreme
Judicial Council chief Faeq Zaidan, an Iran-backed judge who has served as
Baghdad’s kingmaker in recent years. Zaidan will almost certainly play a pivotal
role in key appointments and policy debates going forward, especially concerning
Iraq’s balance between Washington and Tehran. In addition, Iraqi prime ministers
tend not to serve more than one term nowadays—presumably because the factions
who dominate Baghdad worry that a longer-serving leader might develop
independent ideas and try to reform a bureaucracy that they have deliberately
kept unwieldy in order to maintain the status quo.
Whatever his longer-term prospects, Washington should give Prime Minister Zaidi
a few months’ grace period to gain his footing before pressing him too hard on
disarming terrorist PMF factions. Once the honeymoon is over, however, the Trump
administration should not hesitate to implement tough measures, including
sanctions against the state and senior government officials for continuing to
fund U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. Until Baghdad takes steps to
disarm these groups, U.S. security assistance to the Iraqi government should
remain frozen. Washington should also urge Gulf states to increase their own
diplomatic pressure on Baghdad regarding action against the Iranian militia
proxies who have attacked them. While disarmament is a long-term project, at
minimum Zaidi must prevent these groups from launching further strikes on Arab
states, U.S. personnel, Iraqi Kurds, or Israel.
To be sure, Zaidi’s predecessor, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, did
little to actually limit the writ of Iran-backed militias. In fact, some of his
actions facilitated their deeper institutionalization—particularly the
capitalization of the Muhandis General Company, which enabled them to
self-finance. Yet toward the end of his term, with U.S. encouragement, Iraqi
politicians and citizens alike started to talk publicly about promoting state
sovereignty and disarming the militias.
Only time will tell whether Zaidi will continue that momentum. As his term
begins, the Iraqi state is a long way off from establishing sole discretion over
matters of war and peace; much like Lebanon, it remains dominated by Iran-backed
militias. Moreover, the end of the Iran war could mean the release of billions
in frozen assets to Tehran, potentially strengthening these militias even
further and adding to the difficulty of dislodging them. Yet if Zaidi fails to
take at least the minimal step of curbing their attacks abroad, these groups
will inevitably undermine Baghdad’s relations with Washington and Arab states,
impede Iraq’s economic development, and precipitate additional foreign military
strikes on Iraqi soil.
*David Schenker is the Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and
director of its Rubin Program on Arab Politics.
Iran's Regime - No Matter
How Hard Any Western Leader Tries to Sell It That Way - Has Not Changed
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/May 30, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/05/154948/
America should follow its own vital national interests, not the priorities of
others who stand to gain from a weakened Iran that will surely have its allies
help it regroup.
No country pressing for a softer stance toward Iran really cares about US
interests – nor should it. Each one of them is looking only after itself — for
economic gains, regional influence, or domestic political stability. They have
virtually no concern about the direct threat Iran poses to the United States.
What is most important now is for the US to abandon its illusion that the
current Iranian regime -- whatever lower layer is left of it -- will ever alter
its stance toward the United States or the West and become a "normal" partner.
Iran's regime -- no matter how hard any Western leader tries to sell it that way
-- has not changed. It will continue to brutalize its neighbors and its citizens
as hard as it can.
[I]t is clear that meaningful change requires changing the regime itself.
America should support the Iranian people's aspirations for freedom. Many reject
theocracy. Softened stances or premature deals only legitimize and strengthen
the current system.
The only reliable partner sharing this burden is Israel.
Sustainable peace will come only from empowering the Iranian people against a
system built on hatred, brutality and confrontation. Illusions of reform through
softer positions or deals have failed for decades. US interests demand dealing
with the root problem: Iran's regime.
It is clear that meaningful change requires changing the Iranian regime. America
should support the Iranian people's aspirations for freedom. Many reject
theocracy. Softened stances or premature deals only legitimize and strengthen
the current system.
Many countries in the region, including Pakistan, seem to be urging and pushing
the United States to stop its firm stance on Iran's regime. They appear to
prefer watered-down agreements and accepting Iran's terms.
These countries clearly are acting in their own interests, not America's. The
Iranian regime, while having its proxies target their oil fields, has not,
however, been nearly as much of a threat to them as it has been, for nearly half
a century, to Israel and the United States.
Iran's regime began, in November of 1979, by kidnapping more than 50 American
diplomats in the US embassy in Tehran and holding them hostage for 444 days.
Since then the regime has targeted Americans relentlessly: killing US soldiers;
carrying out terrorist attacks such as 9/11/2001, and the 1983 Beirut Marine
barracks, killing 241 American servicemembers; and supporting proxies that have
attacked U.S. forces across the region. The regime has attempted to assassinate
U.S. political leaders, including plots against President Donald Trump and
assassination threats against his daughter, Ivanka.
Iran has never chanted "Death to Pakistan" or equivalent slogans against its
neighbors with the same fervor it has reserved for "Death to America" and "Death
to Israel."
The regime's founder, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, explicitly said:
"We shall export our revolution to the whole world. Until the cry 'There is no
god but Allah' resounds over the whole world, there will be struggle."
It was and remains a vision of ideological conquest aimed at transforming
societies, culminating with the destruction of the US, the "Great Satan," and
its ally Israel, the "Little Satan."
Iran's regime, through state media, schools, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC), has indoctrinated generations of its supporters to hate America
and Israel. The regime's entire identity and foreign policy are built on
anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism.
They do not, however, get to dictate US policy. The Iranian regime has
repeatedly declared that the United States and Israel are its primary enemies.
America should follow its own vital national interests, not the priorities of
others who stand to gain from a weakened Iran that will surely have its allies
help it regroup. No country pressing for a softer stance toward Iran really
cares about US interests – nor should it. Each one of them is looking only after
itself — for economic gains, regional influence, or domestic political
stability. They have virtually no concern about the direct threat Iran poses to
the United States.
The only true friend whose cooperation and unconditional help align reliably
with the US on Iran and global security is Israel. In fairness, unlimited
gratitude also needs to go to the United Arab Emirates, which received the
second-highest number of missile and drone strikes from Iran but has remained
throughout a loyal, unflinching US ally, despite Iran's brutal bombing campaign.
Any counsel from Israel to the US is grounded in shared fate, not in a competing
agenda.
What is most important now is for the US to abandon its illusion that the
current Iranian regime -- whatever lower layer is left of it -- will ever alter
its stance toward the United States or the West and become a "normal" partner.
Iran's regime -- no matter how hard any Western leader tries to sell it that way
-- has not changed. It will continue to brutalize its neighbors and its citizens
as hard as it can. Anti-Americanism is not merely a policy choice; it is the
regime's DNA, its core identity.
Khomeini's Iran and the system he built produced IRGC commanders, indoctrinated
youth, and a foreign policy centered on opposition to America and Israel. This
is why, even after significant military setbacks, economic freefall, and damage
in the 2026 conflict, the regime persists with the same ideology.
Deals may bring temporary smiles or pauses, but the underlying hostility
remains. The regime will not relinquish its revolutionary goals. History shows
it lies, buys time, and continues. You cannot separate the regime from its
foreign policy; the regime is the policy.
Once this illusion is set aside, it is clear that meaningful change requires
changing the regime itself. America should support the Iranian people's
aspirations for freedom. Many reject theocracy. Softened stances or premature
deals only legitimize and strengthen the current system.
The US should pursue only its own interests on Iran, not anyone else's. Iran is
not chanting "Death" to them or targeting their leaders as it has America and
Israel. Iran's regime will remain a threat as long as it exists in its current
form. The regime cannot and will not change its identity.
The only reliable partner sharing this burden is Israel.
Sustainable peace will come only from empowering the Iranian people against a
system built on hatred, brutality and confrontation. Illusions of reform through
softer positions or deals have failed for decades. US interests demand dealing
with the root problem: Iran's regime.
*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
*Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22564/iran-has-not-changed
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Syria-Jordan-Lebanon energy
deal could fuel huge benefits across the wider region
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/May 30/2026
One of the latest and most important recent developments in the evolving
geopolitical landscape of the Levant is a tripartite agreement this month on
energy between Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
This pact, which facilitates the utilization of Jordanian infrastructure for
liquefied natural gas imports and the reactivation of the Arab Gas Pipeline,
ought to be considered a significant step toward practical regional cooperation.
There are several benefits to the deal. First of all, building on previous
bilateral arrangements, it addresses immediate energy deficits in Syria while
extending indirect benefits to Lebanon’s strained power sector. Considering that
Syria is still at a critical juncture in its post-civil war reconstruction, it
also offers a pragmatic foundation for broader collaboration extending far
beyond energy alone.
The gas-exchange framework also demonstrates the potential of practical
cooperation in an area long beset by conflict and institutional challenges.
These mutual dependencies will also incentivize more engagements among the three
nations.
One of the key areas in which they can expand cooperation is efforts to combat
drug smuggling and other transnational criminal networks
For Syria, it adds essential electricity-generation capacity vital for
reconstruction efforts and economic revival. It strengthens Jordan’s position as
a regional logistical and energy hub. And it offers Lebanon partial relief from
the chronic power shortages that have long undermined socioeconomic stability.
The collaboration will also establish trust and operational mechanisms that can
gradually extend into more complex domains. In other words, these initial,
pragmatic steps can pave the way for deeper cooperation.
Another significant aspect of the deal is that it can be used by the three
nations as a starting point to foster expanded partnerships in four areas:
security, humanitarian affairs, economic connectivity, and resource management.
This will not only advance their own individual interests but also the stability
and prosperity of the wider Middle East. One of the key areas in which they can
expand cooperation is efforts to combat drug smuggling and other transnational
criminal networks. These networks exploit porous borders and instability. It is
also worth noting that the production and trafficking of illegal substances such
as captagon from areas within Syria and Lebanon fuel violence, strain
law-enforcement resources, and pose significant public-health challenges across
the Levant.
The ministerial-level dialogue established under the gas agreement can also
provide the foundations of a platform for joint intelligence sharing and
coordinated border patrols. The three countries need to integrate their
counternarcotics initiatives to better disrupt illicit flows of drugs. This will
also reinforce state authority and reduce spillover effects in neighboring
markets, including those in the Gulf. Another critical, and equally pressing,
issue is related to the need for coordinated responses to the ongoing refugee
crisis, particularly stemming from Syria. Jordan and Lebanon continue to host
substantial refugee populations, which has created significant burdens on public
services and social cohesion, and fiscal challenges remain acute.
The three nations can directly support improved conditions in refugee camps and
host communities, as well as reintegration programs within postwar Syria. Such
humanitarian and developmental programs can include livelihood initiatives and
skills training. This can help transform a protracted challenge into an
opportunity through shared investment in human capital. Trilateral mechanisms
can also help to promote orderly, voluntary returns of refugees and sustainable
resettlement, which is more likely to alleviate demographic pressures.
A third issue is linked to the strengthening of border security, which
represents another critical avenue for collaboration among the three countries.
The successful management of energy-related infrastructure near borders points
to the feasibility of joint protocols for monitoring border security.
One way to adequately address the risks posed by nonstate actors is to enhance
surveillance and modernize border-crossing facilities. This would also
facilitate and allow the safe movement of goods and individuals across borders.
In Syria’s post-conflict environment, such measures are essential because they
increase legitimacy and further create conditions conducive to reconstruction.
In addition, the promotion of economic integration through increased trade and
infrastructure connectivity is critical. This means the restoration and
expansion of pipelines, roads and rail connections. This would position Syria as
a vital regional corridor, leverage Jordan’s logistical strengths and access to
ports, and utilize Lebanon’s maritime advantages.However, this will require
joint-investment frameworks, as well as the participation of the private sector
to reduce costs. The importance of such a move lies in the fact that it can
stimulate job creation. It will also accelerate post-war economic recovery by
integrating the three economies more closely with broader regional and global
markets. Finally, the three countries can coordinate on the issue of water to
address the interconnected challenges of drought and scarcity in the Levant.
Specific projects could include shared management of aquifers, as well as
energy-supported desalination projects. In other words, they can use the
positive momentum from the gas accord to expand into renewable-energy projects.
The ramifications of such multifaceted cooperation would extend far beyond the
three participating states. First of all, a more stable Levant would reduce the
risks from a number of threats, including terrorism, irregular migration and
illicit trafficking. This Arab-led model of pragmatic integration could also
attract international investment and financing. In a nutshell, the agreement
between Syria, Jordan and Lebanon represents a positive and pragmatic move. It
establishes a valuable platform for expanded collaboration in other critical
areas, including efforts to combat drug smuggling, address the protracted
refugee crisis, strengthen border security, enhance trade and infrastructure,
and coordinate water and energy policies. Such multifaceted integration would
not only benefit the three countries through improved security, humanitarian
outcomes and prosperity, it would also contribute in a meaningful way to broader
regional stability across the Middle East. It would reduce transnational threats
and create a model for pragmatic, Arab-led cooperation.
**Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political
scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
Selected Face
Book & X tweets
on 30 May/2026
Tony Abisamra
·Thank you to President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the
entire U.S. administration for their efforts in supporting Lebanon and creating
a historic opportunity for our country.
Lebanon must seize this moment. President Aoun should take the bold step of
crossing the Rubicon and meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Such an
initiative could remove the pretext used by the Iran-Hezbollah-Amal axis to
continue dragging Lebanon and its four communities into wars they neither decide
upon nor benefit from.
Hussien Abdel Hussien
It is time to free Lebanon from the hegemony of this axis and restore full
sovereignty to the Lebanese state. Lebanon should be addressed before Iran. A
free and sovereign Lebanon can help pave the way toward a broader regional
settlement with Iran-not the other way around. See less
These Lebanese can win the world championship in duplicity. They denounce Israel
and ask the world to intervene to stop the war but don’t even utter the word
Hezbollah. Who is Israel fighting exactly? Martians from outer space. Please
stop wasting everyone’s time.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
U.S. Syria Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack wasted a year of everyone’s time,
promising the world a Syrian Israeli ski resort at the border between the two
countries. Instead, we got Syria exporting Islamist terrorists to Africa’s
Sahel, the upcoming battlefield for the brewing jihad terrorism.
ME24 - Middle East 24
Syrian Fighters Reportedly Deployed to Niger and Other African States Amid
Alleged Foreign Transfers Groups of Syrian fighters linked to Turkish-backed
factions have been transferred from Syria to Niger, as well as to other African
countries
Hiba Nasr
200 social, and civic figures from Nabatieh declared the city open to the
Lebanese state & its official security forces. The move reflects a growing
public call for state authority & legitimacy in Southern Lebanon, despite
significant challenges on the ground & the likelihood of a response from
Hezbollah.
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian
https://x.com/i/status/2060430152463483283
A barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah last night struck a church in
southern Lebanon, according to footage published by the IDF. According to the
military, the rockets struck several buildings in Marjaayoun, including Saint
Georges Orthodox Church, causing
Lebanon Monitor
Israeli forces launched a new ground attack in the eastern direction of
Ghandouriyeh earlier today, coming from Qantara via Wadi Al-Hujeir. According to
Hezbollah statements, confrontations have so far been limited to the eastern
outskirts of the town.
Unconfirmed reports also speak of an Israeli attempt to advance towards the
Beaufort castle and Arnoun from the direction of Yohmor, claiming that clashes
are taking place in the area. Other reports also state that heavy shelling is
targeting the area. However, as said, these reports have so far not been
confirmed by any official or independent source. I will update as soon as more
information becomes available. Additionally, Hezbollah confirmed yesterday the
Israeli ground attack on Debbine - Marjayoun, stating that they targeted a tank
in the area.
Israeli Air Force
https://x.com/i/status/2060722294498918552
The Air Force attacked and destroyed yesterday the headquarters of Hezbollah's
terror organization artillery in the Al-Shuaima area in southern Lebanon.
Following the strike, secondary explosions were identified indicating the
presence of weaponry inside the structure. The headquarters was attacked after
it was identified that Hezbollah terrorists were present in the area.
Ambassador Mike Huckabee
The obstacle to peace between Israel & Lebanon is neither Israel OR Lebanon.
It’s Hezbollah.
Today at the Pentagon, I hosted military delegations from Israel and Lebanon for
the security track supporting the ongoing peace talks between their two
countries. We held productive military-to-military discussions which will inform
the Department of State-led political track
Elissa el Hachem
On Lebanon skills in missing golden opportunities, (August 2025):
U.S. @LindseyGrahamSC proposed a future mutual defense agreement with Lebanon.
He championed the idea during a bipartisan congressional visit to Beirut in
August 2025, stating it would be transformative for the country. Graham stressed
that the defense pact and broader U.S. investment hinge on Lebanon disarming
Hezbollah and making the LAF the sole repository of arms in the country. This
support could shift the perception among marginalized Shia groups, showcasing
viable alternatives to dependence on Hezbollah for economic stability. By
reinforcing trust in the Lebanese government and its institutions, this approach
fosters a sense of national unity. He cited Lebanon's religious diversity and
its unique role in protecting minority groups in the Middle East as the primary
motivators for the proposed bilateral alliance.
Fouad Makhzoumi
https://x.com/i/status/2060701945900282287
After November 27, 2024, Hezbollah was supposed to hand over all its weapons to
the control of the state, which it did not do. Hezbollah had promised to
cooperate with the Lebanese Army by surrendering its weapons first south of the
Litani River, and then throughout the rest of the country, but it failed to
fulfill these commitments. Instead, it decided to attack Israel on March 2,
2026, in retaliation for the assassination of Khamenei.
Our President and government have taken very courageous decisions in response to
what the majority of Lebanese people want: to live in peace and not be dragged
into a devastating war every few years.
بعد 27 تشرين الثاني 2024، كان من المفترض أن يقوم حزب الله بتسليم كامل سلاحه إلى
الدولة، إلا أنه لم يفعل ذلك. كما كان الحزب قد تعهّد بالتعاون مع الجيش اللبناني
من خلال تسليم سلاحه أولًا جنوب نهر الليطاني، ومن ثم في باقي الأراضي اللبنانية،
لكنه لم يلتزم بهذه التعهدات. وبدلًا من ذلك، قرر مهاجمة إسرائيل في 2 آذار 2026،
ردًا على اغتيال خامنئي. لقد اتخذ رئيس الجمهورية والحكومة قرارات شجاعة جدًا
استجابةً لما يريده غالبية اللبنانيين، وهو العيش بسلام وعدم الانجرار إلى حرب
مدمّرة كل بضع سنوات.
Fouad Makhzoumi
https://x.com/i/status/2060694919535058946
The latest statistics show that the majority of the Lebanese are now openly
against Hezbollah’s weapons and blame the group for the destruction of the
country.
When you see that, openly, in Beirut we convened most of the Sunni MPs, and for
the first time we were able to issue a statement saying that the Sunni MPs
support direct negotiations with Israel for peace, while Grand Mufti Daryan also
made a statement in the same direction, it shows that the majority of Lebanese
are saying: enough is enough — it is time to move on.
أظهرت الإحصاءات الأخيرة أن غالبية اللبنانيين باتوا اليوم يعارضون بشكل علني سلاح
حزب الله، ويحملون الحزب مسؤولية تدمير البلاد. وعندما نرى أننا في بيروت تمكّنا من
جمع معظم النواب السنّة، وللمرة الأولى استطعنا إصدار بيان يؤكد أن النواب السنّة
يؤيدون المفاوضات المباشرة مع إسرائيل من أجل السلام، بالتوازي مع الموقف الذي
أعلنه أيضًا سماحة المفتي الشيخ عبد اللطيف دريان، فهذا يدل على أن غالبية
اللبنانيين باتوا يقولون: كفى، لقد حان وقت المضي قدمًا.
Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby
Today at the Pentagon, I hosted military delegations from Israel and Lebanon for
the security track supporting the ongoing peace talks between their two
countries. We held productive military-to-military discussions which will inform
the Department of State-led political track next week. The Department of War
values the partnership with both the Israel Defense Forces and Lebanese Armed
Forces, supports Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, free of armed
non-state actors, and welcomes these historic efforts to realize President’s
Trump’s vision for peace. The United States anticipates reconvening soon to
continue the security track.
Kurdism24
Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack was sacked by Rubio yesterday because he was
arranging F-35 jets for Turkey and letting Turkey control parts of Syria. This
policy went against Israeli, Kurdish and Greek interests. Neocons
Shay Gal שי גל
@ShayGal84
Pakistan Does Not Meet the Abraham Accords Standard
The Abraham Accords rest on convergence: recognition, reciprocity, alignment,
integration and a shared interest in regional stability. They are not a vehicle
for repackaging failures in American South Asia policy. Washington’s Pakistan
mistake will not become Israel’s policy.
For decades, Washington treated Pakistan as an ally while discounting India. It
confused access with alignment and utility with trust. That policy weakened
clarity, rewarded leverage and distorted the strategic balance of South Asia. It
is not Israel’s model.
The distinction is clear: the issue is the Pakistani state, not the Pakistani
people.Pakistan does not recognize Israel. Its position on Jerusalem remains
maximalist. Its military remains the country’s decisive political arbiter. Its
strategic doctrine does not meet the threshold that made the Abraham Accords
possible. No ceremony can convert such a system into a partner. Kazakhstan is
not the precedent. It is the warning. Kazakhstan already had relations with
Israel. Its addition to the Abraham Accords created no strategic breakthrough.
It produced spectacle, confusion over regional maps, and restraint in Jerusalem.
It was theatre without damage.
Pakistan is different.
Kazakhstan was a mirage. Pakistan would be an injury.
The cost would be paid in New Delhi.
India is not another bilateral file for Israel. It is one of Israel’s strategic
pillars: democratic, technological, military, economic and civilizational. It
connects Israeli innovation with Indian scale, Israeli security experience with
Indian depth, and the Eastern Mediterranean with the Indo-Pacific. This
relationship was built over time, through trust and strategic discipline. It
will not be diluted by Washington’s Pakistan habit. Pakistan’s inclusion in the
Abraham Accords now would send India a damaging signal. It would legitimize the
same architecture through which Washington discounted India and rewarded
Pakistan’s leverage.
That would not expand peace.It would turn peace into a wedge against the
Jerusalem-New Delhi axis. Normalization is not a trophy cabinet. It is not a
brand extension. It is not a diplomatic recycling bin for American illusions. It
is statecraft. It works only when recognition reflects reality, partnership
reflects alignment, and ceremony follows strategy. Israel welcomes peace with
every serious state that accepts recognition, reciprocity and clarity. Pakistan
has not made that choice. Until it does, its place is not inside the Abraham
Accords. Washington may still treat Pakistan as a habit.
Jerusalem will not turn that habit into policy. The greatest mistake in American
South Asia policy has a name. Israel will not sign it.