English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For November 14/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made
Mark 02/18-22: “John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. ‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.’

Titles For The English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on November 13-14/2026
The Danger of the Iranian Mullahs Possessing a Nuclear Bomb: Hitler’s Lesson That Was Never Understood/Elias Bejjani/November 14/ 2026
Hopefully USA & Israel will attack Iran & topple its satanic regime/Elias Bejjani/November 12/2026
To Our Official, Partisan, Political Maronite Leaders and Clergymen: Who Is Your Role Model, the Traitor Muqaddam Salem or the Martyr Patriarch Daniel Al-Hadchiti?/With an article by Colonel Charbel Barakat recounting the story of Muqaddam Salem/Elias Bejjani/November 12/2026
Holy Lebanon in the Grip of Corruption and Occupation and the Heresies of Satan Berri's Calls for Dialogue/Elias Bejjani/November 10/2026
From "Voice of Charity" (Sawt al-Mahabba), A video link for today’s Divine Liturgy
Abu Arz: Lebanon… A Word from History (11)
What the Trump Administration Is Planning for the Post-UNIFIL Phase
Intensive International Efforts to Shape the Post-UNIFIL Phase
Security Situation and National Challenges at the Core of Meeting Between Al-Rahi and the Army Commander
Judicial Decision to Release Al-Alwani’s Body Without Autopsy; Iraqi Ambassador Confirms Procedures Underway for Repatriation to Iraq
Israeli Artillery Targets Several Southern Towns
Israeli Forces Abduct a Lebanese Citizen… Escalation Spreads in the South
What did the five individuals arrested between Bsharri and Batroun reveal during interrogation?
Hand over the five detainees… Hezbollah confronts the judiciary with a "prisoner" equation!
In a specialized operation, the Army seizes military-grade weapons and ammunition from a warehouse in the Southern Suburb (Dahiyeh).
Hezbollah Remains Hardline: A Speech Targeting Aoun Undermines Berri’s Conciliatory Efforts!
Depositors’ Funds Face a New Test: IMF Raises the Bar and Warns of Potential Failure in Banking Sector Resolution
Who Owns the Musharafiyah Arms Depot? New Details Revealed Regarding the Raid
Qabalan: We Will Not Accept Any Deal That Compromises Lebanon’s Sovereignty and Interests
Al-Khatib Warns Against "Formalizing and Legitimizing the Framework Agreement" via the UN Security Council
The Lokman Slim Foundation Condemns the Killing of Former Iraqi MP Ahmed al-Alwani in Beirut
This is what was found inside a civilian home in Meiss al-Jabal, southern Lebanon: rockets, ammunition, communications equipment, and Hezbollah military gear.
No Coup Needed: The State Is Dissolving Itself/Elissa El Hachem/Now Lebanon/November 13/2026
Lebanon… Reading Reality from a Different Angle/Rami al-Rayes/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
Hezbollah Demands Release of Five Detainees; Standoff Ensues Amidst Silence
Lebanese Forces Participate in Cabinet Session on Electricity, Yet Maintain Boycott
Patriarchs Back the Authorities and Extend Solidarity to the People of the South

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 13-14/2026
Air Travel Paralysis in the United States... Federal Aviation Administration Imposes Nationwide Ground Stop
Heated Session at the UN Security Council on the Gulf: Bahrain Reveals Toll of 7,000 Attacks and Demands Accountability for Iran
Washington Denies Destruction of Its Radar in Bahrain… What Happened with the Two Iranian Drones?
A Mysterious Underground Iranian Nuclear Facility in Isfahan… The IAEA Sounds the Alarm!
Iron Gate Against Iran: Is the U.S. About to Sever Tehran’s Last Economic Arteries?
Mossad Chief in Washington… Israeli Pressure to Resume War on Iran
Eisenkot Challenges Netanyahu: "I Will Not Allow Arabs to Be Maligned"
A Defense Agreement Between Qatar and Turkey: Military Coordination Against External Attacks and Signals Regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
Will J.D. Vance Withdraw from the 2028 Race? The War with Iran Shakes His Presidential Ambitions

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 13-14/2026
Syria Is Indoctrinating a New Generation of Terrorists So Much for Giving Al-Sharaa 'A Chance'/Robert Williams/Gatestone Institute/November 13, 2026
Hamas Destroys Gaza For Money, International Sympathy and So Israel Can Get the Blame/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/November 13, 2026
The Gulf Army and Its Spirit/Mishary Dhayidi/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
Ibn Rushd and the Question of War and Peace/Radwan al-Sayyed/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
Israel... A Change in Faces or in Approach?/Dr. Amal Moussa/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
Al-Zaidi Returns from Tehran with No Answers/Mustafa Fahs/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
Question: Why do I face the consequences of Adam’s sin when I did not eat the fruit?/GotQuestions/November 13/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on November 13/2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on November 13-14/2026 (Some of the News reports below are translated from Arabic by AI)
The Danger of the Iranian Mullahs Possessing a Nuclear Bomb: Hitler’s Lesson That Was Never Understood
Elias Bejjani/November 14/ 2026
Allowing the current Iranian regime to possess a nuclear weapon is not merely a strategic error; it is a catastrophic gamble with the security of the entire international order. This regime is not like ordinary states that seek deterrence or balance. It is a system built on a religious-political doctrine that views global chaos as the path to “salvation,” war as a sacred means, and human beings as cheap fuel.
Ideological Roots: Delusions Managed as State Policy
The belief system that governs Tehran today is not merely a political ideology. It is a mixture of delusions, hallucinations, and detachment from reality. According to the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih established by Khomeini after 1979, “true peace” can only be achieved with the return of the “Hidden Imam” (the Mahdi) from his occultation. For that to happen, the ground must first be prepared through chaos, wars, and global turmoil. This is not marginal rhetoric; it is an integral part of the regime’s political and religious literature. Khomeini himself wrote in his books and letters about the necessity of exporting the revolution and about political borders being temporary illusions in the face of the “Islamic ummah” that must submit to the rule of the jurist.
In their view, the entire world is not a collection of sovereign states with borders, but open arenas for their struggle. When they lose one arena, they move to another: from Lebanon to Syria, from Iraq to Yemen, from Gaza to the Red Sea. This pattern has been clear since the 1980s: the creation of Hezbollah in Lebanon, support for the Houthis in Yemen, the arming of militias in Iraq and Syria, and the financing of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Whenever one front narrows, another is opened. Borders, to them, are imaginary lines, and states are merely tools or temporary obstacles
There is no real value for human life in this system. The concept of “martyrdom” has been widely promoted since the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), when tens of thousands of young men and boys were sent in human-wave assaults against mines and tanks, promised paradise and the houris. This discourse continued after the war and became a permanent tool of mobilization. A regime that holds such a belief does not fear human losses the way modern, democratic, and free states do. Martyrdom is not a tragedy; it is a ticket to paradise. This renders traditional deterrence calculations weakly effective against a system that sees mass death as a path to ideological victory.
The Historical Parallel with Hitler: A Lesson Never Absorbed
In its essence and mechanisms, this situation resembles that of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. After Hitler came to power in 1933, he rearmed first secretly and then openly, violated the Treaty of Versailles, remilitarized the Rhineland in 1936, annexed Austria in 1938, and then demanded the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. At the Munich Conference in September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Premier Édouard Daladier made major concessions, believing that “peace in our time” was possible by containing Hitler through dialogue and concessions. That conviction was a catastrophic historical error. Instead of containing him, they gave him time, legitimacy, and the ability to rearm, until it was he who imposed war in 1939 by invading Poland, then overran Europe and killed millions before his regime was brought down in 1945.
The parallel is not superficial. Both regimes built an ideology that sees the world as an arena of inevitable conflict, used propaganda and mass mobilization to glorify sacrifice and death, repeatedly violated international agreements without initially paying a real price, and benefited from the hesitation of the major powers and their fear of early confrontation.
The Nuclear Record and Negotiations: A Consistent Pattern of Deception
Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, Iran’s nuclear program has followed a secretive path. In 2002, the Iranian opposition revealed the Natanz and Arak facilities, prompting investigations by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Over two decades, recurring patterns emerged: concealment of facilities, delays in reporting, enrichment beyond declared limits, and research activities with military dimensions. The 2015 JCPOA granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for temporary restrictions. After the American withdrawal from the agreement, Tehran accelerated enrichment, reaching levels close to military use in later stages, while reducing cooperation with inspectors. This is not the behavior of a state seeking only legitimate deterrence. It is the behavior of a regime that uses negotiations as a tool to buy time and resources—exactly as Hitler used diplomatic conferences before the war.
The Consequences of Western and Israeli Policies: The Price of Hesitation and the Return to the Logic of Concessions
There is another highly dangerous dimension directly linked to the Iranian regime’s ability to recover and rebuild its influence. When American policy shifts from a approach of maximum pressure, severe sanctions, and clear military deterrence to one that relies primarily on agreements, concessions, and open dialogue, the Iranian regime regains a wide margin for maneuver. This shift does not occur in a vacuum; it directly affects American military capabilities in the region, the readiness of allies to act decisively, and Tehran’s own calculations. The weaker the language of deterrence becomes and the more it is replaced by the language of containment through agreements, the greater Iran’s ability to re-finance its proxies and rebuild its military, missile, and nuclear infrastructure.
The same applies to the Israeli arena. When the continuity of a leadership that adopts a policy of direct confrontation with the Iranian axis and its proxies is disrupted, and is replaced by periods of hesitation or internal political deals that limit freedom of military and intelligence action, the result is to give Tehran and its arms the opportunity to reposition. In such periods, Iran regains the ability to reactivate Hezbollah in Lebanon, reorganize the militias in Iraq and Syria, support Palestinian armed groups, and then gradually move toward broader attempts to influence the Gulf states and destabilize their regimes from within through financial, media, and sectarian networks. Regional history since 2003 confirms that any vacuum in Israeli or American pressure is quickly filled by renewed Iranian influence.
This dynamic is not theoretical. Whenever external pressure recedes, the regime returns to the pattern of “crisis management” through proxies: igniting relatively low-cost fronts, exhausting adversaries, and buying time for the nuclear project. Therefore, any policy that prioritizes lowering energy prices or avoiding short-term confrontation at the expense of long-term deterrence ends up practically giving the Iranian regime exactly what it needs: time, resources, and relative legitimacy.
The Error of Regional Support for the Regime: Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt
There is another strategic error committed by certain regional states, foremost among them Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan, and behind them influential circles in Egypt. These states, or currents within them, act as if keeping the Iranian regime away from direct confrontation—or even supporting it diplomatically, economically, and in the media on certain files—serves their stability or balances other powers. This calculation is fundamentally mistaken.
The Iranian regime does not recognize genuine long-term partners. It uses interest-based alliances as long as they serve its project, then turns against them or blackmails them when the balance of power changes. Qatar, which has opened wide channels with Tehran; Turkey, which intersects with it on regional and commercial files; Pakistan, which shares a complex border and fluctuating security relations with Iran; and Egypt, where some circles try to bet on an Iranian balancing role—all will be among the first to suffer if the regime succeeds in acquiring nuclear capability and fully restoring its momentum.
Why? Because the doctrine of exporting the revolution does not stop at Iran’s traditional adversaries. It views “moderate” Sunni regimes or those allied with the West as obstacles to its project, just as it views Israel and the United States. The experience in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon proves that once Iranian influence takes root, it is not content with partnership; it seeks hegemony through militias, a parallel economy, and sectarian penetration. The Gulf states, Egypt, and Turkey itself are not immune to this pattern if the regime acquires a nuclear umbrella that grants it relative immunity.
The support or diplomatic cover granted to the regime today under the pretext of “avoiding war” or “regional balance” is in reality the granting of additional time to a project that recognizes neither borders nor permanent allies. Anyone who thinks he can tame this regime or use it as a pressure card will, in the event of the success of the Iranian nuclear project, be among the first to pay the price.
Conclusion: The Real Price of Hesitation
What is required is not more negotiations that give the regime time, but a decisive confrontation that prevents it from acquiring full nuclear capability and severs its ties with its proxies. Plans to curb this regime and weaken it structurally are far more important than any temporary rise in oil prices or short-term electoral calculations. Energy prices fluctuate and recover; a nuclear weapon in the hands of an aggressive theocratic regime detached from reality is a permanent threat that is not easily reversible.
History does not forgive those who repeat their mistakes while knowing them. Allowing the Iranian mullahs to reach the nuclear bomb, while deterrence policies are weakened in Washington and Tel Aviv and the regime’s moves are covered by certain regional capitals, is one of those mistakes that the future will not easily forgive. The states that bet on containing this regime through dialogue, deals, or looking the other way will discover, sooner or later, that they did not contain it—they merely cleared its path to becoming the one that imposes its terms.

Hopefully USA & Israel will attack Iran & topple its satanic regime
Elias Bejjani/November 12/2026
The Jihadi Mullah Regime understands nothing but the language of force. Hopefully, Trump, the West, and the Arab world have grasped this reality and will work to bring it down, liberating the world from its evils

To Our Official, Partisan, Political Maronite Leaders and Clergymen: Who Is Your Role Model, the Traitor Muqaddam Salem or the Martyr Patriarch Daniel Al-Hadchiti?/With an article by Colonel Charbel Barakat recounting the story of Muqaddam Salem
Elias Bejjani/November 12/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/11/159189/
This Link  https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/11/87002/ to a very important historical incident, written by Colonel Charbel Barakat and published on our website on June 20, 2020, which we are republishing today. It demonstrates the faith, stubbornness, courage, culture, resistance, struggle, and history of the heroic Maronites.This incident is addressed to all current Maronite leadership, temporal, official, and religious in particular, and to all who echo their line in politics and in national, partisan, and ecclesiastical affairs, and also to all the rest of the political crews and the owners of party-companies and miserable agencies. We point out here that Lebanon, in lived reality, is an occupied country whose state is rogue, failed, and disintegrated, and the occupier and the destructive cancer is the Persian, mullah, sectarian, and terrorist Hezbollah. This gang-party is not part of the Lebanese fabric. It kidnaps and holds the noble Shiite community hostage, confiscates its decision by force, and therefore does not legitimately represent it, neither in Parliament nor in any other arena. It did not liberate the South; rather, it occupies it. It is not a resistance, but a gang whose members are Lebanese mercenaries according to all international standards… The leaders of this gang boast that they are soldiers in the army of Wilayat al-Faqih… And there are hundreds of Iranian positions and statements that confirm this truth.
Hence, every politician, or owner of a Maronite party-company in particular, who does not acknowledge these facts publicly and does not work seriously to confront them by all means to liberate Lebanon, is in practice and without the slightest doubt a clone of the traitor Muqaddam Salem.

Holy Lebanon in the Grip of Corruption and Occupation and the Heresies of Satan Berri's Calls for Dialogue
Elias Bejjani/November 10/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/11/159072/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VRMbWQ5nc
Holy Lebanon's fate is controlled by clergymen who do not know God nor His teachings, by merchant-rulers of the filthy Trojan ilk, and by a political and partisan clique with no conscience, no integrity, and no sentiment, followers of Iscariot and the scribes and Pharisees, and by media outlets and journalists who are for the most part hired trumpets and cymbals skilled at nothing but hypocrisy, verbal bluster, and marketing for their masters. And more dangerous than all of that is the existence of an Iranian occupier, an enemy of its own environment, of Lebanon, and of humanity, who has turned Lebanon into one of the arenas for the wars of the insane mullahs.
And above all of this, the catastrophe of the Land of the Cedars lies in the debauchery, prostitution, and insolence of the king of corruption and the corrupt, Nabih Berri - Abu Mustafa - who was brought forth by the hatching machines of the Palestinian, Syrian, and Iranian occupations.
Imagine that this ungrateful man holds in his grip a parliament whose members are all castrated, and who were appointed through an electoral law tailored by the mullahs to fit the evil scheme of their jihadist, terrorist, and criminal Hezbollah, distributing seats to cowards, collaborators, and thugs.
Berri: King of Corruption and the Corrupt
Nabih Berri is not a Speaker of Parliament; he is the head of a fully integrated corruption system. He is the protector of shady deals, the godfather of quota-sharing, the engineer of obstructing the judiciary, the thief of the Council of the South's funds, the cover for smuggling, drugs, and illegal weapons, and the partner of the terrorist-Jihadist Iranian Hezbollah in plundering the state, bankrupting it, and starving its people.
He is the one who obstructed the investigation into the Beirut Port explosion, he is the one who protected criminals and murderers from justice, and he is the one who turned Parliament from a legislative institution into a farm for clientelism, bribery, and money laundering.
Berri is the last human barrier protecting Iran's mini-state in Lebanon. Without Berri, the system of illegal weapons would have fallen. Without Berri, Hezbollah would not have continued to control the decision of war and peace. Without Berri, Iran would not have continued to use Lebanon as fuel for its absurd wars.
The Holy Bible says: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25).
This is Berri exactly: an outside polished with speeches about dialogue and consensus, and an inside full of extortion, corruption, and collaboration.
The Holy Bible says: "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). And Berri chose money, chose Iran, and sold God, the homeland, and the people.
Berri's Satanic Call for Dialogue
This satanic Berri calls for dialogue... a dialogue to circumvent what remains of the state for the benefit of Iran's mini-state, and to foil the current international and regional opportunity carrying the project of peace and liberation.  It is a satanic call par excellence, because it is not a dialogue but a conspiracy. Dialogue with whom? With murderers? With thieves of the homeland? With those who carry weapons against the state? With those who refuse to surrender their weapons and implement international resolutions 1559, 1701, and 1680? True dialogue takes place between free equals under the ceiling of the Constitution and the law, not between executioner and victim, not between occupier and occupied, and not between a corrupt man and a hungry people.
Berri wants a dialogue that keeps the weapons, keeps the corruption, keeps the occupation, and keeps Lebanon hostage. He wants a dialogue that reproduces the same system with new names and old faces.
But we say to him and to his masters in Tehran: the era of poisoned dialogues is over. The era of bargaining at the expense of blood and dignity is over. No dialogue with weapons, no dialogue with corruption, no dialogue with occupation.
The Bible says: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). And we will not conform to this corrupt age; we will reject it, expose it, and resist it.
The Importance of Peace with Israel: Closing the Lebanese Arena to Iran's Wars. Peace with Israel is not treason; it is salvation. It is not normalization with an enemy; it is the liberation of Lebanon from its real enemy: Iran. Lebanon has paid exorbitant prices for wars that were not its wars, and its sons have paid with their blood for the adventures of the mullahs in Gaza, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. How many villages were destroyed? How many young men were martyred? How many families were displaced? How many economies collapsed? All of this because Iran wanted to fight Israel from Lebanese territory, and with Lebanese blood.
Peace with Israel means closing the Lebanese arena permanently to Iran's wars. It means removing the pretext for illegal weapons. It means restoring the decision of war and peace to the state alone. It means opening the doors to economy, investment, and prosperity. It means Lebanon's return to its leading role regionally and internationally in the civilized world, after Iran and its party kidnapped it into the axis of evil and destruction.
On peace, the Lord Christ says: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). And He also says: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
Whoever rejects peace is a son of war, a son of Satan, a son of destruction. And whoever stands as a barrier in the face of peace is Nabih Berri himself, Iran's faithful servant, the guard of Hezbollah's weapons, and the enemy of every free Lebanese who wants to live in dignity and security.
Berri stands as a barrier to peace because peace means his end. Peace means a strong state with no place for militias. Peace means an independent judiciary with no place for the corrupt. Peace means a free economy with no place for shady deals. Peace means a free people with no place for slaves. For this reason, the battle for peace is an existential battle: either a Lebanon of peace and life, or a Lebanon of Berri, Iran, and death.
A Final Word to the Puppet Rulers
To the puppet rulers without a single exception, to the owners of local and proxy party companies, and to the owners of mitres and robes, foremost among them our Maronite Patriach, the shepherd who has abandoned his flock, we say: You are devils, you are thugs, you are enemies of Lebanon and the Lebanese, and with you there is no salvation, no liberation, and no freedom, but catastrophes, destruction, and ruin, because he who lacks something cannot give it. Rest assured that the fire of hell and its worms await you, no matter how long the era of your prostitution lasts.
The Bible says: "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26). And you have gained money and positions, and lost your souls, your homeland, and your eternity.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

From "Voice of Charity" (Sawt al-Mahabba), A video link for today’s Divine Liturgy—Friday (November 13) of the Week of the Dedication of the Church—celebrated by Father Johnny Al-Hasbani, an Antonine monk, at the Church of Saint John the Beloved in Jounieh
https://www.facebook.com/charityradiotv/videos/1144224144667497
Become a partner in charity and join us in our mission of evangelization by supporting our work in whatever way suits you best.

Abu Arz: Lebanon… A Word from History (11)
Facebook / November 13, 2026
Ulpian of Tyre—born in the Phoenician city of Tyre around 170 AD—stands as one of the greatest pioneers of legal thought in the Roman Empire.
He authored legal treatises that became essential references for Emperor Justinian during the codification of Roman law in the sixth century AD.
Among the most famous legal principles transmitted by Ulpian are:
"To live honorably, to harm no one, and to render to each his due."
These principles have since become fundamental pillars of Western legal thought.
In summary:
It is one of history’s ironies that while our ancestors contributed to establishing the foundations of justice among nations, our current leaders fail to establish it within their own homeland.
The former made law the foundation of civilization, while the latter have placed authority above the law. #AtYourServiceLebanon
References:
* Justinian, *Corpus Juris Civilis*, *Institutiones* (Institutes), Book I, Title I, Paragraph 3.
* *Digesta* (Digest), Book I, Title I, Paragraph 10, attributed to Ulpian.

What the Trump Administration Is Planning for the Post-UNIFIL Phase
Al-Markaziya / November 13, 2026
Journalistic sources have informed LBCI that the administration of President Donald Trump is considering the establishment of a mechanism similar to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO)—currently deployed in Egypt—to monitor a tripartite agreement between Lebanon and Israel, as a potential arrangement for the post-UNIFIL phase. The sources indicated that the United States is in discussions with its European partners, particularly France and Italy, regarding the creation of a new civilian monitoring force to replace UNIFIL. In this context, the sources noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is closely following this file, recently raised the possibility of forming such a civilian monitoring force. Separately, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations is scheduled to visit Lebanon on Monday and Tuesday, where they are expected to meet with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Intensive International Efforts to Shape the Post-UNIFIL Phase
Al-Markaziya / November 13, 2026
According to information from Al-Jadeed, the post-UNIFIL phase could pave the way for Israeli forces to take up positions vacated by the international force, with any alternative limited to a civilian force tasked with monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, MTV reported that a French envoy and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed are set to arrive in Beirut in the coming hours, as part of efforts to find a solution for the post-UNIFIL period. According to reports, U.S. envoy to the United Nations Michael Waltz will arrive in Lebanon this weekend and is scheduled to meet with the country’s three top leaders on Monday. Diplomatic sources indicated that Waltz has been a staunch advocate for ensuring that southern Lebanon does not fall into a power vacuum following the conclusion of the UNIFIL mission—a matter that serves as the primary objective of his visit. It was further noted that the involvement of the French in the post-UNIFIL phase has become inevitable; this issue was discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his visit to France. The transition in Israel—from Benjamin Netanyahu to Gadi Eisenkot—has reportedly played a positive role in this context.

Security Situation and National Challenges at the Core of Meeting Between Al-Rahi and the Army Commander
Al-Markaziya / November 13, 2026
As part of ongoing efforts to monitor developments in the country, the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Rudolph Haykal, visited the Patriarchal See in Bkerke this afternoon. He was received by the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi. The two discussed the current situation in light of recent security developments and the challenges Lebanon faces during this critical juncture. The Army Commander briefed the Maronite Patriarch on conditions on the ground and the evolving security landscape. They also reviewed various national issues and domestic concerns, emphasizing the need for a concerted effort to preserve Lebanon’s stability and safeguard its security and institutions.

Judicial Decision to Release Al-Alwani’s Body Without Autopsy; Iraqi Ambassador Confirms Procedures Underway for Repatriation to Iraq
Al-Markaziya / November 13, 2026
Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj, has ordered the release of the body of former Iraqi Member of Parliament Ahmad Al-Alwani. This decision follows a commitment from diplomatic authorities to accept the body without an autopsy, after a forensic medical report concluded that the fluid found in the intestines was a result of the body’s decomposition. Subsequently, the Iraqi Ambassador in Beirut announced that the body had been received—following the confirmation of test results—and indicated that the necessary procedures to transport it to Iraq have begun.

Israeli Artillery Targets Several Southern Towns
South/November 13, 2026
This morning, Israeli artillery shelling targeted the towns of Majdal Zoun and Buyut al-Sayyad. Israeli army forces also opened fire with machine guns toward the main road leading to the town of Al-Mansouri. Shortly after midnight, artillery fire struck the outskirts of the towns of Mays al-Jabal and Aitaroun, as well as Wadi al-Salouqi, near Shaqra. Last night, Israeli artillery also shelled Jabal al-Qusayr and Al-Ma’bour, on the outskirts of the town of Baraachit in the Bint Jbeil District; the shelling also reached the outskirts of the town of Mifdoun.

Israeli Forces Abduct a Lebanese Citizen… Escalation Spreads in the South
South/November 13, 2026
In a new security development on the southern front, Israeli forces abducted a Lebanese citizen from his workplace in the town of Al-Mari, in the Hasbaya District. This occurred alongside a field escalation that included artillery shelling, the deployment of smoke grenades, and an explosion in the vicinity of Khiam, amid Israeli military movements in several towns. According to reports, an Israeli force abducted Ali Hussein Sheet—a native of the town of Kfar Kila in the Marjeyoun District—while he was working at a stone factory in the town of Al-Mari. On the ground, smoke grenades were deployed toward the outskirts of the town of Zoutar al-Sharqiya, while Israeli artillery—firing from a position at Tell Nahhas—targeted Wadi al-Hujair. The shelling also struck the towns of Hadatha and Al-Mansouri, coinciding with an explosion reported in the vicinity of the town of Khiam. In a further field development, the movement of an Israeli mechanized force from the town of Al-Tiri toward the town of Hadatha was observed, amid ongoing military maneuvers and Israeli strikes in the region.

What did the five individuals arrested between Bsharri and Batroun reveal during interrogation?
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
New information has emerged regarding the five individuals affiliated with Hezbollah—arrested in the highlands between Bsharri and Batroun—shedding light on the nature of their activities and the objectives behind the reconnaissance they were conducting in areas with a non-Shia majority. According to information obtained by MTV, the detainees confessed during interrogation that they were carrying out proactive reconnaissance—akin to a maneuver—aimed at determining how to protect Shia-inhabited areas located within districts that have a non-Shia majority. Reports indicate that the group had previously conducted similar reconnaissance operations in other areas.

Hand over the five detainees… Hezbollah confronts the judiciary with a "prisoner" equation!
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
The case of the five individuals arrested in the highlands of Batroun and Bsharri is becoming increasingly complex, as new details emerge regarding their movements and the missions they were carrying out in northern Lebanon. Suspicions have arisen concerning their reconnaissance of the area, their efforts to organize local groups, and their provision of weapons and other forms of support to these groups. As the Lebanese judiciary faces Hezbollah’s demands to hand over the detainees, the apartment they used in Koura—and the events that unfolded there following their arrest—have raised further questions about the nature of their activities and the parties that may have been facilitating their operations. According to information reported by MTV, while Hezbollah has not officially declared that the five detainees belong to the organization, its leadership tasked MP Hussein Hajj Hassan with contacting judicial authorities—specifically the Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation, Ahmad Rami al-Hajj—to demand their release, asserting that they "belong to the Resistance." Notably, as reported by MTV, Hajj Hassan suggested that these five individuals should be counted alongside Hezbollah members held by Israel, effectively equating their arrest by Lebanese authorities with the detention of Hezbollah operatives by Israel. In response, this demand has met with the Public Prosecutor’s insistence on upholding the law, with the latter affirming that the investigation will proceed according to due process. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the detainees have undergone initial questioning and are set to be confronted with one another, following their request to appoint legal counsel. The mission entrusted to them remains unclear, especially since the leak regarding their arrest allowed for the apartment they were using to be cleared of its contents, preventing the seizure of further evidence that might have revealed the nature of their activities. The fact that they did not possess mobile phones fueled suspicions regarding the security-related objectives of their movements, while simultaneously making it more difficult to uncover the specific details—particularly since the seized documents contained ambiguous notations and the names of various villages and towns.
Lebanese security sources revealed to "Erem News" that preliminary investigations indicate the detainees were not acting alone; rather, they were part of an external support and monitoring network that utilized an apartment in the town of Banharan, in the Koura District, for logistical purposes. According to the sources, the detainees left their mobile phones in the apartment before heading toward the mountainous region. Following the news of the arrests, individuals suspected of being linked to the group rushed to the location, removing the phones and certain documents before security forces could arrive. The Information Branch is currently working to identify these individuals—as well as others believed to have monitored the group’s movements remotely—in order to determine the nature of the mission they were carrying out and the parties that oversaw it. The sources further explained that investigators were able to piece together fragments of documents that the detainees had attempted to tear up inside their vehicle. These documents included operational plans concerning Tripoli and the Koura District, along with lists of names and assigned tasks for various units, identified by specific labels such as the "Rashkida Group" and the "Koura Group." The documents also contained references to weapons—including the term "snipers"—as well as requests for support, imagery, and equipment. These findings have fueled suspicions that the individuals involved were making field preparations that went well beyond mere geographical reconnaissance. Security services are currently working to determine whether the groups mentioned in the documents are existing cells being activated and reassigned new tasks, or whether they are groups that were being planned for establishment in the near future. The investigation has also extended to the detainees' ties to the "Charitable Association for the Revitalization of the Five Villages" (Al-Jam’iyyah al-Khayriyyah li-In’ash al-Qura al-Khams), based in the town of Banhran; security agencies are scrutinizing the nature of the relationship between the two parties and investigating whether any civilian facilities or connections were exploited to facilitate the group's activities. Meanwhile, inquiries continue in the Koura and Batroun districts, as authorities search for other individuals potentially linked to the detainees' activities or to the apartment from which the phones and documents were seized.

In a specialized operation, the Army seizes military-grade weapons and ammunition from a warehouse in the Southern Suburb (Dahiyeh).
Al-Markaziya / November 13, 2026
The Army Command – Directorate of Orientation issued the following statement: The Army’s Intelligence Directorate carried out a specialized security operation following precise surveillance and monitoring of the transport and trafficking of weapons. The Directorate raided an arms warehouse in the Musharrafiya area of ​​the Southern Suburb, seizing a large quantity of military-grade weapons and ammunition. A Lebanese national, identified by the initials A. A., was also arrested. The seized items have been handed over, and an investigation into the detainee has begun under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities. In this context, security sources informed "Al-Jadeed" that the warehouse raided by Army Intelligence in Musharrafiya belongs to two individuals active in the arms trade; the raid followed a meticulous tracking operation. Meanwhile, information obtained by LBCI indicated that the warehouse—which served a commercial purpose—contained Kalashnikov assault rifles, handguns, RPG rounds, hand grenades, and various types of ammunition. Reports suggest that the operation was launched following suspicions of arms trafficking, after individuals reported purchasing weapons from those operating the warehouse. This prompted the Intelligence Directorate to monitor the suspects before executing the raid on Thursday evening. It was further noted that the warehouse belongs to an individual identified as A. Kh., from Beirut, who remains at large, while the Directorate has taken A. A. into custody. ...from Beirut, who works with the owner of the warehouse; an investigation has been initiated under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities. Preliminary findings suggest the case is linked to arms trafficking, with investigations ongoing to uncover the full circumstances. According to information from the MTV website, the arms dealer—who owns the warehouse in Al-Musharrafiyah that was raided by the army—is currently in hiding.

Hezbollah Remains Hardline: A Speech Targeting Aoun Undermines Berri’s Conciliatory Efforts!
Lara Yazbek / Al-Markaziya / November 13, 2026
While Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri works to bridge the gap between Baabda [the presidential palace] and the Southern Suburb [Hezbollah’s stronghold], aiming to break the ice and resume dialogue, Hezbollah appears to be on an entirely different path. The party continues to accuse those in power—implicitly including the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun—of making concessions to the United States, foreign tutelage, and the Israelis. Furthermore, it remains steadfast in its commitment to its arsenal and the choice of "armed resistance" to liberate the land. This rigidity was clearly evident in the speech delivered on Wednesday by the party’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem. He stated, "There will be no exclusivity, regulation, prohibition, or disarmament of the Resistance’s weapons while under occupation. Focus instead on what benefits the country, on living conditions, and on national protection—do not offer credentials to the enemy." He further called on the authorities to "cease talk of restricting the Resistance’s weapons while under the shadow of aggression." He added, "You want to hand over the resistance and the country to the Zionist enemy for the sake of your own personal gains... There is no longer any need for negotiation, because what you included in the framework agreement has given Israel everything it wants, leaving nothing for you. The political authority’s conduct along this entire path amounts to nothing more than gratuitous concessions to the enemy." Given such intransigence, political sources—advocates for national sovereignty—ask via the "Al-Markaziya" news agency: what is there left to discuss with the party? In this speech, Qassem appears to have burned all his bridges with those in power—specifically President Aoun—by declaring that he will not surrender his weapons, nor will he even entertain a discussion regarding the issue of his arsenal, as long as the Israelis remain in the south. Yet, the surrender of these weapons is the fundamental prerequisite—the very "ABC"—demanded by Tel Aviv and Washington before any Israeli withdrawal could begin. If, in the party’s view, the weapons are off the table, then what is there to negotiate with Baabda [the presidential palace]? According to these sources, Qassem’s stance is directed not only against Baabda but also strikes a fatal blow to the mediation efforts led by Ain el-Tineh [Speaker Nabih Berri]. This is compounded by the party’s additional demand that the government rescind its ministerial decisions from August 5, August 7, and March 2 before any engagement with Aoun can take place. Consequently, the sources note, the impasse will persist until some new development occurs—perhaps a breakthrough in the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations that puts the party on the defensive and undermines its justification for retaining its arms, or an international agreement that addresses the issue of these weapons. One can only hope that such an agreement does not come at the expense of Lebanese sovereignty—a sovereignty that those currently in power have failed to adequately protect.

Depositors’ Funds Face a New Test: IMF Raises the Bar and Warns of Potential Failure in Banking Sector Resolution
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
The issue of bank deposits in Lebanon has returned to the forefront of international pressure, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) renewing its demand that Lebanese authorities ensure the maximum possible protection for depositors' funds. This comes alongside the restructuring of the banking sector and efforts to address the financial imbalances plaguing the country. In a development that highlights the persistent complexities surrounding a resolution, the IMF revealed that while progress has been made in discussions with Lebanese authorities regarding approaches to the banking crisis, a long road remains before a final agreement can be reached on a comprehensive and sustainable strategy—one that addresses losses and restores confidence in the financial sector. In this context, Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, head of the IMF mission to Lebanon, urged the authorities to guarantee the highest possible level of protection for depositors within the draft law on financial regulation and the recovery of deposits, emphasizing the need to respect the hierarchy of claims when allocating losses. He stressed that any resolution to the crisis must simultaneously account for the liquidity positions of the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban) and commercial banks, ensure the sustainability of public debt, and prioritize the restoration of the Central Bank’s solvency. These demands underscore the difficult balancing act facing Lebanese authorities: protecting the rights of depositors on one hand, and addressing the accumulated losses in the banking sector on the other—all without imposing additional burdens on public finances that could threaten their stability. Ramirez Rigo announced that discussions with Lebanese authorities have made progress in clarifying the approaches being considered by the government and the Central Bank (Banque du Liban) for restructuring the banking sector; however, reaching an agreement on an effective and sustainable strategy still requires further work. In a statement issued following an IMF mission’s visit to Beirut from November 10 to 13, he explained that the talks focused on aligning the draft law on financial recovery and deposit restoration—currently before Parliament—with established international standards.
This implies that the draft law still faces a critical test: its ability to address the crisis in a fair and transparent manner, while establishing clear mechanisms for loss distribution and defining the rights of the various stakeholders involved. Notably, the IMF emphasized the necessity of applying the law on the resolution of banks in all instances, viewing it as a cornerstone for establishing a transparent, clear, and predictable mechanism to address—or liquidate—distressed banks. This point is particularly significant given the ongoing ambiguity surrounding the fate of several Lebanese banks, as well as the criteria for determining which institutions remain viable and which require resolution or liquidation. The IMF maintains that a clear legal framework for bank resolution is an essential step toward reorganizing the sector, assigning responsibilities, and putting an end to the uncertainty that has characterized the banking situation since the onset of the crisis. The most sensitive point in the negotiations concerns the mechanisms and criteria for the recovery of deposits—a matter that still requires further discussion between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Lebanese authorities. Ramirez Rigo explained that the objective is to strike a balance between maximizing the amounts that depositors can recover and ensuring that the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban) and commercial banks have the liquidity required for such repayments. However, this balance must not be achieved at the expense of public debt sustainability or efforts to restore the solvency of the Central Bank. Consequently, determining the sources of funding, the repayment schedule, and the scale of liabilities remains a primary challenge in crafting a final solution. The discussion, therefore, goes beyond the mere principle of returning deposits; it extends to the modalities of repayment, the allocation of losses, and the actual capacity to provide funds within a fiscally sustainable framework. The IMF mission expressed its intention to continue the dialogue with the Lebanese authorities over the coming weeks to make progress on outstanding issues, reaffirming the Fund’s commitment to supporting Lebanon in the design and implementation of a comprehensive economic reform program, in line with its policies and mandate. This visit builds upon discussions initiated during the IMF experts' visit last September, as part of ongoing efforts to develop a strategy for restructuring the banking sector and addressing the deposit crisis. Amidst international demands and domestic financial and political considerations, the fundamental question remains: will the Lebanese authorities succeed in devising a formula that ensures depositors recover as much of their funds as possible—while rebuilding a banking sector capable of resuming its role—or will the issue of deposits remain deadlocked, caught between disputes over the allocation of losses and the scarcity of available resources?

Who Owns the Musharafiyah Arms Depot? New Details Revealed Regarding the Raid
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
Details are gradually emerging regarding the security raid carried out by the Lebanese Army Intelligence in the Musharafiyah area of ​​the Southern Suburb (Dahiyeh). New information has come to light concerning the identities of those who owned the arms depot, the nature of their activities, the outcome of the operation, and the items seized. Security sources stated that the depot belonged to two individuals involved in arms trafficking, noting that they were located following a precise tracking operation that preceded the raid. According to the sources, one of the individuals was arrested, while a pursuit for the second person is ongoing. The seized items included rifles, handguns, and quantities of ammunition. LBCI reported that the depot contained Kalashnikov assault rifles, handguns, RPG launchers, hand grenades, and ammunition. Information indicates that the depot belongs to an individual identified as "A. Kh." from Beirut, who remains at large. Meanwhile, the Intelligence Directorate has arrested "A. A.," also from Beirut—an associate of the depot owner—who is currently being interrogated under the supervision of the relevant judicial authorities. According to reports, the operation was initiated following suspicions of arms trafficking, prompted by statements from individuals who confirmed purchasing weapons from those operating the depot. Consequently, the Intelligence Directorate placed the suspects under surveillance before executing the raid on Thursday evening. Preliminary information suggests that the case is linked to arms trafficking, while investigations continue to uncover the full circumstances and determine the scope of the activity.

Qabalan: We Will Not Accept Any Deal That Compromises Lebanon’s Sovereignty and Interests
Al-Markaziya / November 13, 2026
The Jaafari Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, delivered the Friday sermon at the Imam al-Hussein Mosque in Burj al-Barajneh. In the political portion of his address, he stated: "We are undoubtedly living through a historic regional moment of immense significance—especially as the 'Middle East project' that Washington has been concocting for decades nears its end (whether through a rapid collapse or a turbulent decline). This follows the war involving Iran, which exposed the United States to its worst historical failure—if not a historic defeat (regardless of whether they admit or deny it). The center of gravity in the Middle East—comprising Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, alongside the major hub of Iran—has shifted. What Tehran has offered in this arena can be described as a 'unique opportunity'—the likes of which may not recur for an entire century. It is no exaggeration to say that Washington and Tel Aviv are currently experiencing their worst historical moments, amidst a world being transformed by Iran’s strategic victory. The four-party scene witnessed by the world—when representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey gathered in Tehran—effectively encapsulates the new regional order." He added: "The current reality on the ground dictates that there is no solution other than a regional order that replaces Zionist-American terrorism. The constant equation is this: a strong Iran and a strong 'Axis of Resistance' mean that the Middle East is undergoing rapid change. The solution lies in a regional partnership—a settlement involving Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia—that would form the nucleus of a new regional order, one in which Washington and Tel Aviv have no hegemony, nor even a marginal influence. This extraordinary strategic outcome hinges on Tehran, Sanaa, Beirut, and other influential capitals; once realized, the world will witness the collapse of American hegemony and its followers." Regarding Lebanon, he noted: "The shifts in the Middle East can only be understood through the lens of the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab, and the legendary steadfastness demonstrated by the resistance in Lebanon. I call it 'legendary' because, for the first time in the history of fundamental global conflicts, a resistance force has managed to confront the largest and most formidable Zionist-American-Atlantic arsenal—an arsenal that sought to uproot Lebanon from its historical and sovereign foundations and transform it into a Zionist-American colony. This implies, necessarily, that without the resistance, Lebanon would cease to exist; it could neither endure nor play any influential role in matters of sovereignty and regional affairs." He further urged "the executive authority in this country to realize that the solution lies within Lebanon—not in 'shameful negotiations.' The path of Islamabad is what is required, both nationally and in terms of sovereignty; failing this, the executive authority forfeits its national legitimacy and its sovereign capacity." He pointed out that "the solution—now, tomorrow, or in the days to come—can only be achieved through national capabilities that bring together the resistance, the army, the principle of coexistence, and the established constitutional framework, all within the context of a sovereign national struggle. Nothing is more vital for this country than consensus, engagement, solidarity, partnership, and dialogue. Those who insist on acting unilaterally are merely dooming themselves to failure and defeat; as for us, we will never accept any deal that compromises Lebanon’s sovereignty or its interests."

Al-Khatib Warns Against "Formalizing and Legitimizing the Framework Agreement" via the UN Security Council
Al-Markaziyah / November 13, 2026
The Vice President of the Supreme Islamic Shia Council, Allamah Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, has warned against "igniting strife (*fitna*) in Lebanon by formalizing and legitimizing the 'Framework Agreement' through the UN Security Council." He advised the Lebanese authorities "not to embark on this dangerous venture, nor to fall into the trap of abandoning the 'Islamabad Understanding'."
Allamah Al-Khatib led the noon prayers today at the Council’s headquarters on the Airport Road and delivered the Friday sermon. He began by citing a Quranic verse that calls for responding to God and His Messenger and avoiding *fitna* (strife/discord). He stated, "Disregarding this call leads to the corruption of one’s faith and one’s standing in the Hereafter. It is a call for faith that resides in the heart, not merely on the tongue. The fundamental human struggle—from beginning to end—lies in the failure to put belief into practice; faith alone is insufficient in this regard. In our current reality, Muslims have proven no exception to this rule." He pointed to "those who fail to confront *fitna* when it arises, choosing instead to stand on the sidelines, waiting to see who will emerge victorious." He added, "Such people delude themselves into thinking that the *fitna* will not reach them, only to discover they are mistaken. This has occurred throughout Islamic history, where *fitna* erupted and engulfed the entire *Ummah* (community), leading to its fragmentation into various sects and schools of thought—ultimately resulting in the state we find ourselves in today. We are currently living through an era of such *fitna*, where some are even engaging with the enemy of the *Ummah*—who is, by extension, an enemy of its faith." Al-Khatib concluded that "all the wars taking place today are aimed at stripping this *Ummah* of its religion, reducing us to mere subordinates, devoid of any power or agency." He added: "All of this was the result of a cumulative process. Calls began to emerge—prioritizing individual nation-states—which served as a recipe for fragmentation, even though God intended for us to be a single nation, not a collection of disparate ones. The enemy managed to sow division—succeeding to a certain extent, though not entirely—as a resistance movement and an environment that sustains it have persisted. Consequently, our enemies have mobilized all their forces against this resistance. Regrettably, some regimes within our own nation are collaborating with them, working to embroil us in sectarian wars. These actions have ultimately backfired on those who initiated them—a development we find truly unfortunate. Today, the enemy is attempting to reignite the spirit of strife by exploiting the rift between Sunnis and Shias; this is why we constantly see fingers pointed at the Shias—a tactic orchestrated by intelligence agencies. There have even been attempts to undermine the religious authority (*marja'iyya*), which has consistently stood against such strife." He continued: "Our steadfast position has always been to confront this strife—a stance held by our Imams, dating back to the Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib. We have paid a price—and continue to pay one—for confronting the instigators of this discord. To the enemy, the distinction between Sunni and Shia is irrelevant. The Israeli enemy is our primary adversary, and its principal strategy is to sow discord within our ranks. We have confronted this enemy to help the nation regain its awareness of who its true, primary adversary is. The enemy has deployed all its forces and resources to counter the path we have chosen, yet it has failed to achieve its objectives, reaching both a dead end and a state of despair." He added: "Lebanon was one of the most dangerous arenas chosen by the enemy; for this reason, the Islamic Republic insisted on making Lebanon the first item in the memorandum of understanding—a memorandum whose terms the Americans are now attempting to evade. Today, following their failure, they are trying—using the Lebanese arena—to solidify the failed 'framework agreement' and secure its international legitimization through the UN Security Council. This is being orchestrated as a deceptive maneuver, involving the Lebanese authorities, aimed at extricating Lebanon from the Islamabad Understanding." He continued: "We advise them against embarking on this endeavor, which would only lead to strife from which no one would emerge unscathed. We hope that those in power will consult their consciences, especially now that the United States has let them down. Abandoning the Islamabad Understanding would mean that Israel remains in the South, preventing any return or reconstruction. We therefore warn them against entering into this dangerous gamble—falling into this trap—and providing the U.S. administration with an opportunity to ignite strife within Lebanon."

The Lokman Slim Foundation Condemns the Killing of Former Iraqi MP Ahmed al-Alwani in Beirut
X platform/November 13/2026
The Lokman Slim Foundation condemns the killing of former Iraqi MP Ahmed al-Alwani, whose body was found on November 10, 2026, inside an apartment in the Tariq al-Jadideh neighborhood of Beirut. According to Asharq Al-Awsat (November 11, 2026), available information suggests that he may have been lured to Beirut to be killed, with no indication thus far that the crime was motivated by financial gain or robbery.
Al-Alwani was a prominent figure in Iraqi political life after 2003. Elected to parliament as a representative of Anbar Governorate on the Iraqiya List, he was known for his opposition to Nouri al-Maliki’s government and to Iranian influence in Iraq, for his support of the 2012–2013 protests in Anbar, and for his advocacy of a federal Sunni region. He was arrested in December 2013 and sentenced to death following trials that drew criticism from international human rights organizations. He was released in April 2025. After his release, al-Alwani moved to Erbil in the Kurdistan Region, where he resumed his political activities, criticizing armed factions and calling for the Iraqi state to hold exclusive control over weapons.
While the motives behind his killing and the identities of those responsible remain under investigation, the Foundation stresses that al-Alwani’s political history warrants a thorough examination of the possibility that he was targeted because of his political positions and public activities, without prejudging the findings of the investigation. Lawyer Anwar al-Alwani, the victim’s cousin and a member of Iraq’s Taqaddum Party, issued a statement accusing Lebanon’s Hezbollah of carrying out the killing. This allegation remains unsubstantiated.
To prevent Lebanon from remaining a safe haven for politically motivated killings linked to regional conflicts, the Foundation calls on the Lebanese authorities to fully investigate the circumstances of the crime, identify those responsible, and bring them to justice. Such action is essential to ensuring accountability and ending the impunity that allows killing to persist as a means of silencing political voices.

This is what was found inside a civilian home in Meiss al-Jabal, southern Lebanon: rockets, ammunition, communications equipment, and Hezbollah military gear.
Israel-Alma@Israel_Alma_org
https://x.com/Israel_Alma_org/status/2120920808776511908/video/1
All of this was found in civilian structures located just 100 to 200 meters from UNIFIL posts.
These findings once again demonstrate how Hezbollah exploits civilian areas in southern Lebanon to store weapons and establish military infrastructure, right under the noses of UNIFIL forces.
On December 31, 2026, UNIFIL's mandate is set to expire. Since 2006, the force has operated in southern Lebanon under a mandate authorizing the deployment of up to 15,000 troops. One of its primary missions has been to help ensure that the area south of the Litani River remains free of Hezbollah's military presence and weapons. In reality, over the past two decades, Hezbollah has built an extensive military infrastructure across southern Lebanon, including facilities and weapons stockpiles inside civilian homes and near UN positions, while the international force has stood idly by as Hezbollah expanded its military capabilities.The findings in Meiss al-Jabal are yet another example of the gap between UNIFIL's mandate and the reality on the ground.
After two decades in which the international force has failed to prevent Hezbollah's military buildup in southern Lebanon, it is difficult to see how extending its mandate or deploying a replacement international force, without fundamental changes to its authority and enforcement capabilities, would produce a different outcome.

No Coup Needed: The State Is Dissolving Itself
Elissa El Hachem/Now Lebanon/November 13/2026
Hezbollah did not stage a coup. It did not need to. The Lebanese state is dissolving itself into Hezbollah, instead of dissolving Hezbollah. On Tuesday, the cabinet’s own defense minister proved it.
Three statements followed Monday’s Qatari meeting in Washington. Iran’s Rezaei told the US to “fold your hand” and “surrender” to Iran’s seven conditions. Qatar’s prime minister spoke of “positive discussions” on a deal. Trump said the blockade continues under “Operation Iron Gate,” on land and sea, that Gulf states prefer the status quo, and that America is “locked and loaded,” though he called that unlikely. No deal soon, no war yet, and a long squeeze. Pressure in a squeeze flows to the weakest link. That is Lebanon.
On May 21 Washington sanctioned nine people, including a General Security brigadier general and a Military Intelligence colonel accused of passing intelligence to Hezbollah. Reports now describe a longer list: judges, officers and politicians, with whispers of names near the three presidencies.
Then came Detroit. Lebanon’s consul general, Ibrahim Charara, was declared persona non grata over 2021 posts praising the 1983 Marine barracks bombing. His aides say the account was hacked. The State Department said it will “never forget” the victims.
That word is the message. For Washington, Hezbollah is not only Iran’s proxy. It is the group blamed for the deaths of 241 Marines. A deal with Tehran can reshape the Iran file. It cannot close that one.
Hezbollah is back on its feet, reportedly rebuilding with Iranian money. The state chose no confrontation. Let Israel finish the job was the unspoken policy. Hezbollah reads through the regime’s book and eyes: Netanyahu “leaving”, Trump “weakened”, the mullahs “winning”. All premature. But perception moves Lebanon faster than facts.
On Friday, army commander Rodolphe Haykal told his officers that Israel is “the first threat” and that critics act against “national belonging.” Hezbollah’s weapons did not appear in the reported remarks. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Michel Menassa backed him, and hit his own government. The cabinet’s powers, he said, are limited to general defense and security policy, and do not include issuing orders, which belong exclusively to the army command.
The army adheres to the political decision, “but” its grave national responsibility is the supreme priority: any decision must protect the army’s capabilities and morale, preserve the unity of its people and prevent any sedition that a step taken “under any pressure” might cause. Read that “but” slowly. Obey, unless obeying is dangerous, and the army decides what is dangerous.
Now the law. Article 65 of the constitution says executive authority is vested in the Council of Ministers, “the authority to which the armed forces are subject,” and that it supervises military and security institutions “without exception.” The minister did not interpret the constitution. He inverted it. Disarming Hezbollah is the step the army can now call sedition.
A state that dilutes Hezbollah disarms it. A state diluted in Hezbollah gets sanctioned with it.
Lebanon faces four scenarios. The nearest is a new US sanctions round within weeks, reaching judges, officers and politicians. Next is paralysis at home: the disarmament decision stays on paper because the army treats its orders as optional. Then comes the region, either renewed strikes on Iran that drag Hezbollah in, or a US-Iran arrangement that freezes Lebanon with Hezbollah armed. Last, a southern vacuum once UNIFIL leaves on December 31. Help from Congress is not on the list. It will fight Trump over Iran and Israel, not for Lebanon.
Everyone is busy with their own mess, and that is exactly when a small country gets sold. Menassa asked the Lebanese not to be “a dagger in the army’s back.” Fair. But the dagger is already in the state’s back, and nobody in Beirut will say whose hand is on it.
Elissa E Hachem is a journalist and political writer specializing in regional affairs and governance. Former Regional Media Advisor at the U.S. State Department’s Arabic Regional Media Hub, with broad experience in strategic communication across government and private sectors.
**The views in this story reflect those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of NOW.

Lebanon… Reading Reality from a Different Angle
Rami al-Rayes/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
Lebanon is in a deep impasse. It lacks the capacity to drive the Israeli occupation out of the territory it seized in the last two wars, in which it destroyed more than 60 southern Lebanese villages and towns. Nor can it extend the authority of the legitimate state and implement the provisions of the Taif Agreement on confining weapons to the state without a military clash, given the intransigence of Hezbollah, and of Iran behind it, in refusing to hand over those weapons, even though they failed to provide Lebanon with a protective umbrella, and the balance of deterrence spoken of for decades has collapsed under successive Israeli strikes. On the first front, it has become clear that there was haste in signing the trilateral agreement, or the "framework agreement" as the government preferred to call it, which was never submitted to the cabinet or to parliament for debate. Constitutional formalities and institutional requirements aside, the agreement was not anchored in the 1949 Armistice Agreement between Lebanon and Israel or in UN Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006, and so it lacks the reference points from which any new agreement with Israel should have proceeded.
It must be said that Lebanon, which managed to secure the armistice agreement, with its recognition, in one form or another, of the border, only a year after the Nakba of 1948, has now fallen back on a current agreement riddled with flaws. The clearest evidence is Israel's failure to comply with even its minimum requirements, and its stalling on implementation on the pretext that disarmament must come first. Hezbollah, for its part, shelters behind this stalling to argue that handing over its weapons is impossible while the occupation continues, even though resistance to occupation is guaranteed by international conventions as a right of peoples and states, and a general principle whose abandonment would amount to accepting the occupation and dealing with it in a spirit of surrender or defeatism.
It has also become clear that the clause in the agreement freezing any legal or judicial action by Lebanon against Israel is no more than throwing dust in the eyes. The official Lebanese justification held that this path remains open to Lebanon whenever it wishes. But Israel's practiced procrastination suggests that it has been closed indefinitely, which is a great moral, legal, and political loss for Lebanon. The commendable work of a Lebanese government committee in documenting violations is nonetheless important, even if that path is not pursued, in exposing Israel's methods of dealing with a state with which it has supposedly signed a ceasefire agreement and with which it is supposedly seeking to end a state of permanent war. In practice, too, the idea of "pilot areas" has faltered, and the "pilot" has been confined to the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya alone. The daily shelling of unoccupied areas and the bulldozing of villages in occupied areas, which Israel calls the yellow line zone, are glaring evidence of its unwillingness to end the status quo. They demonstrate, indeed, that Israel prefers that official Lebanon not succeed in collecting Hezbollah's weapons and monopolizing them, since that would deprive it of its pretext for continuing to change the facts on the ground and for keeping Lebanon hostage to it and to its expansionist designs for as long as it can. Israel has always sought to play the game of setting Lebanon's sects against one another and deepening the rifts between them, and it is succeeding, little by little. The voices calling for some Lebanese communities to be relocated to an Arab country are a concrete example. On the second front, the Lebanese state's inability to impose by force, through its legitimate agencies, its control over all its territory, its monopoly of weapons and of the decision of war and peace, and its role in defending the borders, appears no less complex than the first, even though it concerns domestic parties. The complexity lies specifically in this Lebanese faction's ideological, political, organizational, and financial ties to Tehran, which over more than four decades has invested billions of dollars in it, reportedly some $5 billion.
There is no longer any point in saying that had Iran invested half of that money in developing the people of Jabal Amel and the south, institutionally, medically, educationally, and in human terms, that community's situation would be entirely different from what it is today. It is a community stricken in every sense of the word, and its catastrophe is a catastrophe for Lebanese society as a whole. Had Iran wished to take that course after its 1979 revolution, it would have done so. But these were the components and pillars of its policy of exporting the revolution, and they were clear from the start.
Whatever the case, Iran cannot go on holding Lebanon hostage and pushing it toward the abyss once again. Hezbollah, after all, made no secret that it ignited the war to avenge the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; indeed, it boasted of it. Yet it did no such thing when its own secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, a central pillar of the entire "axis," was assassinated. Today Hezbollah cannot avert its gaze from Lebanon's highest national interest, which lies in a strong and capable state, the very thing Israel most rejects and abhors. It is called upon to read the matter from this angle, to save Lebanon and what remains of it.

Hezbollah Demands Release of Five Detainees; Standoff Ensues Amidst Silence
Lebanese Forces Participate in Cabinet Session on Electricity, Yet Maintain Boycott
Patriarchs Back the Authorities and Extend Solidarity to the People of the South
Al-Markaziya / November 13, 2026
As security and judicial matters take center stage, and political debate reignites over the role of Hezbollah and its arsenal, the dual nature of the Lebanese reality is once again laid bare. On one side, the political authority strives to consolidate the state and its institutions; on the other, Hezbollah continues to pursue its own agenda and make decisions independent of the state’s logic, challenging its security and judicial apparatuses.
While investigations into highly sensitive security cases—ranging from the Dahr el-Baidar incident and the discovery of a five-member Hezbollah cell in the northern highlands, to the killing of former Iraqi MP Ahmed al-Alwani—remain ongoing, attention is focused on the performance of the security and judicial agencies. It remains to be seen whether these investigations will yield transparent results or if they will, like so many others, end up gathering dust in a drawer. Meanwhile, the government remains divided; today’s cabinet session on the electricity file failed to bridge the gap, with ministers from the Lebanese Forces continuing their boycott—save for a one-time appearance by Minister of Energy Jo Sader.
Amidst the absence of any prospect for internal consensus, Lebanon awaits a visit next week from the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Michael Waltz. The visit is expected to shed light on the American position regarding a potential successor to UNIFIL, whose mandate expires on December 31. Notably, while a U.S.-French understanding recently emerged in Paris on the need to prevent a power vacuum, no agreement has yet been reached on what might replace the UN mission. Participation, Not an End to the Boycott: While a dispute persists within the government regarding the referral of the case concerning the explosives shipment seized at Dahr el-Baidar to the Judicial Council—a matter that has led ministers from the Lebanese Forces to boycott Cabinet sessions—the Minister of Energy participated in today’s session. This participation occurred because the electricity file was placed as the sole item on the agenda; however, it does not signify an end to the boycott. Reports indicate that the reforms and exemptions related to the electricity sector will not be approved today. Instead, they will be discussed extensively in the presence of the Minister of Energy, with the Prime Minister intending to put them to a vote—alongside other legislation—during next Thursday’s session.
Demand for Release: On the judicial front, as investigations continue into the five individuals affiliated with Hezbollah who were detained in the mountainous region between Bsharri and Batroun, press reports suggest that parties linked to Hezbollah have requested that the Public Prosecutor, Judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj, release the detainees. It is noted that the detainees—who are scheduled to face a confrontation session today—have remained silent regarding the documents seized from them, the codes contained therein, and the true nature of their mission in the area where they were apprehended; they have claimed they were merely looking for houses to rent. Judicial sources state that if the case remains limited to the discovery of certain maps and documents in their possession—and if they provide no confessions proving their involvement in a security-related operation—they will likely be released, as there would be no evidence of a criminal offense. In a judicial development, the Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation, Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj, has requested an autopsy of the body of former Iraqi MP Ahmed Al-Alwani before it is handed over to the Iraqi side. The request aims to determine the cause of death, following the discovery of fluid accumulation in the body, as indicated by X-ray imaging. Meanwhile, Judge Al-Hajj is still awaiting a response from the Syrian side regarding a request by the Lebanese judicial authorities to extradite two suspects involved in Al-Alwani’s murder, who fled into Syrian territory. To date, the Lebanese authorities have received no official reply concerning the extradition request, though they have provided the Syrian authorities with photographs of the suspects. It has also been reported that the Lebanese General Security has joined the investigation; two individuals—owners of shops selling mobile phones and SIM cards—have been detained to help trace communications made on the day of Al-Alwani’s arrival in Beirut. The perpetrators of the murder entered Lebanon on November 2 and departed on November 6. Professional Investigations: In this context, the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ahmed Al-Hajjar, visited the General Headquarters of the Internal Security Forces (ISF). He held a meeting with the Director General, Major General Raed Abdullah, and various unit commanders, during which they reviewed the security situation and the measures being implemented across different Lebanese regions. The Minister also received a detailed report from officers in the operations room regarding field measures and ongoing operations carried out by specialized units—particularly those focused on pursuing and apprehending wanted individuals—to bolster security, ensure stability, and protect citizens. As part of his oversight of security operations, Minister Al-Hajjar, accompanied by Major General Abdullah, visited the Information Branch. There, he met with the head of the branch, Brigadier General Mahmoud Qabarsali, and relevant officers—in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff, Brigadier General (Dr.) Alfred Hanna—to review the tasks undertaken by the branch and the efforts invested in its investigations. He commended the achievements of the branch, noting the success attained despite the high level of confidentiality required by its missions. The Minister highlighted that the security investigations recently conducted by the Information Branch—including the questioning of five individuals detained in the North, the ongoing probe into the murder of a former Iraqi Member of Parliament, and the execution of coordinated patrols and raids in Beirut and various other Lebanese regions—reflect a high degree of seriousness and professionalism in security operations.
Aoun on Upholding the Flag: In a recent statement, President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun called upon the Lebanese people to display the Lebanese flag at their homes, institutions, businesses, and schools—particularly during the period from November 20th through November 22nd, which includes Independence Day. He emphasized that the flag is more than just a banner fluttering over institutions and public squares; "it is a symbol of the nation’s unity, sovereignty, dignity, and national identity. It serves as a unifying force that transcends various affiliations and differences, encapsulating Lebanon’s history, the sacrifices of its people, and their aspirations. Furthermore, respecting the flag is synonymous with respecting the nation itself; safeguarding it is a national duty that reflects the depth of our belonging and our loyalty to the country." Additionally, President Aoun met with Imran Riza, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and Humanitarian Coordinator, to discuss the general situation in Lebanon—with a particular focus on the south—in light of ongoing Israeli aggressions. They also addressed the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the Lebanese state to put an end to these attacks, as well as ongoing consultations aimed at preventing any potential vacuum following the expiration of the operational mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Council of Patriarchs: In the same vein, the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon—which held its 59th ordinary session from November 9th to 13th, 2026, at the Maronite Patriarchal See in Bkerke—affirmed the necessity of respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, protecting its legitimate institutions, and keeping the country neutral regarding regional conflicts. In its final statement, the Council called for the extension of state authority over the entirety of Lebanese territory, the consolidation of decisions regarding war and peace within the state’s constitutional institutions, and the restriction of arms exclusively to the Lebanese Armed Forces and legitimate security agencies. In this context, the Council affirmed the Church’s support for the diplomatic efforts and negotiations currently being conducted by the Lebanese government to end the war and solidify a cessation of hostilities. It further demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied Lebanese territory, as well as the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and all other relevant international resolutions—measures essential for bolstering security and stability and preventing the resurgence of war. The Council urged officials and political factions to prioritize the national interest, embrace dialogue and mutual understanding over confrontation, and work earnestly to address existing crises and restore trust between the state and its citizens. Furthermore, the members of the Council expressed their profound regret over the war and the acts of aggression currently unfolding in Lebanon, along with the resulting destruction and displacement. They specifically commended the resilience and steadfastness of the residents of Debel, Rmeich, and Ain Ebel in remaining on their land, emphasizing that preserving the historic Christian presence in the South is a shared national responsibility—a presence that plays a vital role in maintaining Lebanon’s diversity, unity, and its mission of coexistence. The Council members underscored the right of the local population to remain safely on their land, as well as the right of all displaced persons—including those from Qouzah, Alma al-Shaab, and Yaroun—to return voluntarily, safely, and with dignity to their homes and villages. They also called upon the Lebanese state and the international community to fulfill their respective responsibilities in protecting civilians and ensuring their freedom. ...facilitating movement, securing essential services—particularly healthcare and education—reconstructing what has been destroyed, and providing fair compensation to those affected. The Council has also launched a church solidarity initiative, with contributions from Catholic dioceses and religious orders, to address urgent humanitarian needs in the southern border villages.
"The Resistance Endures": Meanwhile, MP Hussein Hajj Hassan, a member of the "Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc, emphasized that "the Americans, the Israelis, several Arab and Western nations, and certain factions within Lebanon believed they could eliminate the Resistance—whether during the 2024 war, in the 15 months that followed, or during the 2026 war. Yet, they have failed and will continue to fail; the Resistance remains, persists, and stands firm, by the grace of God. The proof lies in the fact that they are all still preoccupied with it. Just days ago, ambassadors from five major powers issued a statement addressing the Resistance—which they had previously claimed was already finished—proving that their agenda has failed, despite the massacres they have committed against our children, women, and the elderly, and their killing of our fighters and our Secretaries-General."
Erdogan in Tripoli: Separately, on the second day of his visit to Lebanon, Bilal Erdogan—son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—paid an official and public visit to the city of Tripoli. He began his tour at President Gamal Abdel Nasser Square (Al-Tall), where he inspected the historic "Sultan Abdul Hamid Clock Tower," a symbolic gift to the city of Tripoli. He subsequently toured the city’s ancient markets and visited Salam al-Siba'i, a descendant of Sultan Abdul Hamid. He then proceeded... The Turkish guest then proceeded to the Great Mansouri Mosque, where he was welcomed by the Mufti of Tripoli and the North, Sheikh Mohammad Imam; the Mayor of Tripoli, Abdel Hamid Karimeh; and a number of prominent local figures. He also inspected the section housing the sacred relics of the Prophet. Afterward, Erdoğan participated in an extensive gathering in the mosque’s courtyard—organized by the Dar al-Ifta—which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, as well as various parliamentary, religious, economic, and social representatives from the city. In his address, Erdoğan emphasized that Turkey’s interest in Lebanon extends beyond mere concern; it is deeply invested in the future of the country and its people. He stated, "We hope that together—Lebanon, Syria, and all the nations of the region—we can chart a future path that brings light and peace to all the inhabitants and peoples of this region." On Saturday, Erdoğan is scheduled to travel to the town of Al-Kwashra in Akkar to meet with its residents—who are of Turkmen descent—before heading to Beirut to meet with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, who will host a luncheon in his honor, marking the conclusion of his visit to Lebanon.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on November 13-14/2026 (Some of the News reports below are translated from Arabic by AI)
Air Travel Paralysis in the United States... Federal Aviation Administration Imposes Nationwide Ground Stop
Al-Markaziyah / November 13, 2026
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency, unexpected order on Friday, mandating a nationwide ground stop for all aircraft departures at airports across the United States until further notice. Authorities described the rare move as being due to "exceptional circumstances and safety-related reasons."
Details of the Order and Its Impact on Air Traffic
According to an official circular issued by the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center, the nationwide ground stop took effect at 14:54 Central Time (20:54 GMT).
The official directive included the following instructions:
- Departure Halt: All aircraft operators are required to keep scheduled departing flights on the ground at all U.S. airports—without exception—until further instructions are issued.
- Inbound International Flights: The FAA stated that international flights bound for the United States will be handled on a "case-by-case basis" to ensure safe landings.
- Ongoing Updates: Authorities emphasized that the measure is primarily precautionary, noting that the situation could persist for several hours until the stability of operational systems is confirmed. Underlying Causes of the Crisis
Although the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) initial statement merely cited "extraordinary circumstances" and "safety concerns" without providing specific technical details, American media reports and sources within the aviation sector have revealed that the cause was a cascading technical failure affecting the frequencies and communication systems that air traffic control centers rely on to monitor aircraft in flight. This widespread malfunction occurred just one day after technical disruptions in the U.S. Midwest—specifically at the Minneapolis air traffic control center—and followed earlier reports today of communication issues that led to a temporary suspension of departures at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, a measure that was subsequently expanded nationwide. A nationwide flight ban in the United States is an extremely rare event in the history of American civil aviation. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy later announced that a "communication issue affecting all air traffic control centers" was to blame, marking the first official confirmation regarding the nature of the failure.

Heated Session at the UN Security Council on the Gulf: Bahrain Reveals Toll of 7,000 Attacks and Demands Accountability for Iran
November 13, 2026
The UN Security Council witnessed a session marked by stark warnings and escalating rhetoric regarding security in the Gulf and maritime navigation. Gulf states accused Iran of orchestrating attacks against nations in the region, while calls were made for decisive international action to prevent the expansion of tensions that threaten international peace and security. During the session—convened on Friday at the request of Bahrain, which holds the Security Council presidency for the month of November—the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held Iran responsible for the attacks targeting its member states. The Council warned of the resulting security, political, and economic repercussions, particularly concerning international maritime traffic.
Bahrain: Nearly 7,000 Attacks via Missiles and Drones
In his address to the Council, Bahrain’s representative stated that his country, along with other GCC states and Jordan, had been subjected to approximately 7,000 Iranian-backed attacks involving missiles and drones. He emphasized that the security of the GCC states is "indivisible" and reaffirmed the Gulf nations' inherent right to self-defense. The Bahraini representative warned that Iran’s threat to resume escalation poses a danger to the entire region. He stressed that the safety of civilians must not be used as a tool for extortion, and called for an end to all forms of support provided to the Houthi militias. The Security Council was urged to take firm action and act responsibly to ensure the implementation of its resolutions—foremost among them Resolution 2817—with the observation that the repercussions of Iranian attacks extend beyond regional security to threaten international stability. Meanwhile, the representative of Bahrain commended the intensive efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman, while also acknowledging the mediation efforts undertaken by Qatar and Pakistan, as part of broader attempts to contain tensions and de-escalate the situation.
Washington: Iran Attacks Commercial Vessels
For its part, the U.S. representative to the Security Council asserted that Iran is explicitly attacking commercial vessels, emphasizing that the United States stands with its partners in the Gulf region. The U.S. representative called on the Council to cooperate with Washington in holding Iran accountable for these attacks—a stance reflecting ongoing international concern regarding the impact of these tensions on the security of maritime corridors and global trade.
United Nations Warns of Threats to International Navigation
The United Nations stressed that international navigation must not be subjected to coercive measures, noting that the past month saw the highest number of attacks on commercial vessels. These warnings carry particular weight given concerns over potential disruptions to shipping in strategic waterways—most notably the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—and the resulting consequences, which could extend well beyond the region to affect international trade, energy supplies, and global supply chains. Gulf Cooperation Council: Protecting Gulf Security Is an International Responsibility
During the session, Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), emphasized the necessity of protecting GCC member states from threats and attacks that target their security and stability. He underscored the importance of securing international maritime corridors and preventing any disruption to the movement of commercial vessels. Albudaiwi highlighted Gulf concerns regarding escalating regional tensions, calling on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and take practical steps to safeguard security and stability—while simultaneously upholding dialogue, de-escalation, respect for state sovereignty, and the principles of international law. He further stressed that the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is an international priority, given the vital role these passages play in global trade and energy flows.
Tehran Speaks of "Painful Blows"
Meanwhile, these international positions coincided with escalatory statements from the Iranian side. The state news agency IRNA, citing local sources, reported that explosions were heard in the Jask region. In a related context, Major General Mostafa Izadi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that Iran is now better prepared to deliver what he described as "painful blows" to those he termed "enemies." Izadi added that Iran’s military capabilities and resources—available for conducting significant operations and striking its adversaries—have increased, affirming the country’s readiness to confront military threats. These statements come at a time when international warnings regarding the expansion of the conflict are intensifying, while the Security Council faces pressure to take steps to prevent current tensions from escalating further—particularly given the risks to the safety of civilians, maritime navigation, and regional stability.

Washington Denies Destruction of Its Radar in Bahrain… What Happened with the Two Iranian Drones?
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that an American early-warning radar system in Bahrain was destroyed. CENTCOM confirmed that U.S. forces shot down two Iranian drones heading toward the Kingdom, with no casualties or damage reported. The U.S. denial follows an announcement by the IRGC, which claimed to have targeted and destroyed a U.S. early-warning radar system in Bahrain—an operation it described as a response to an air strike on a communications tower in the Sirik region of southern Iran. In a statement posted on the platform X, CENTCOM noted that the IRGC launched two attack drones toward Bahrain, both of which were successfully intercepted and downed by U.S. forces, reiterating that there were no injuries or material damage. Conversely, the IRGC—citing Iranian media—stated that its Aerospace Force had targeted and destroyed the U.S. early-warning radar in Bahrain, characterizing the operation as a "serious warning" to the party it accused of attacking Iranian territory.
The Iranian announcement comes in retaliation for an attack on a communications tower in the Sirik region of Hormozgan Province, in southern Iran, which overlooks the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday evening, the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, citing official sources, reported that the area had been struck by an airstrike. Meanwhile, the American statement regarding the two drones neither confirmed nor denied the attack in Sirik that Tehran had alleged. The incident carries added significance given the presence of the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain—a location that Iran has previously threatened to target, along with other U.S. military facilities, in the event of a regional confrontation. This development unfolds against a backdrop of persistent tension between Washington and Tehran, where military skirmishes intersect with the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors for the transport of oil and gas. With Iran claiming the destruction of a U.S. radar system and Washington denying that any damage occurred, the veracity of the damage reported by the Iranian side remains independently unverified.

A Mysterious Underground Iranian Nuclear Facility in Isfahan… The IAEA Sounds the Alarm!
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
International concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program are mounting, amid a lack of oversight over several nuclear facilities and materials. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed growing alarm over a secret underground uranium-enrichment facility in Isfahan—a site whose exact location and the nature of the activities conducted there remain unknown to the agency. This comes as Iran continues to impose restrictions on inspections and fails to provide sufficient information regarding the status of its nuclear facilities, raising new questions about the scale of its activities and the future of its cooperation with the IAEA. In a confidential report addressed to member states—details of which were released this Friday—the IAEA stated that it is “increasingly concerned” about an underground uranium-enrichment facility in Isfahan. Iran announced the existence of this site in June 2025 but has yet to grant international inspectors access to it. In its quarterly report, the agency explained that it does not know the facility’s precise location, its status under nuclear safeguards, or whether it contains any nuclear materials. The continued withholding of information about this facility has fueled further concerns, particularly as the IAEA remains unable to access design information or conduct on-site inspections to verify the nature of the activities taking place within it. In a related context, the report warns that the lack of reliable information regarding Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles—compounded by the continued denial of access to nuclear facilities for inspectors since the attacks in June 2025—raises serious concerns about nuclear proliferation. It notes that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has received no information from Tehran concerning the status of its nuclear facilities and materials, nor has it been granted access to them, with the exception of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. This situation presents mounting challenges for international verification efforts, as it is impossible to ascertain the fate or location of Iran’s nuclear materials, or to evaluate activities taking place within facilities that remain beyond the reach of inspections. The IAEA has reiterated the urgent need to resume verification activities in Iran without further delay, emphasizing that its inspectors must have access to necessary information, facilities, and nuclear materials to fulfill their oversight mandate in accordance with international obligations. Between the mysterious facility in Isfahan and the persistent restrictions on inspections, the information gap between Tehran and the IAEA continues to widen; meanwhile, the true nature of activities within these unmonitored facilities remains a primary source of concern regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Iron Gate Against Iran: Is the U.S. About to Sever Tehran’s Last Economic Arteries?
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
The United States is expanding the scope of its pressure on Iran, moving beyond targeting its maritime oil exports to tightening the noose around its overland supply routes. This move aims to close off channels that Tehran might exploit to offset its economic and military losses, while also obstructing the flow of essential equipment, technology, and funds. In its latest initiative, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the formation of a task force dubbed "Iron Gate," designed to monitor and interdict the movement of advanced weaponry, sanctioned materials, and illicit funds across Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea.
However, this American ambition confronts a highly complex geographical and political reality. Iran does not rely on a single, easily sealable gateway; rather, it is connected to an extensive network of borders and trade corridors. Furthermore, the neighboring states—caught between economic interests, security concerns, and their respective political ties to both Tehran and Washington—each weigh these factors differently. Washington’s decision to broaden its campaign is rooted in what it views as the success of its maritime blockade; CENTCOM estimates that U.S. measures have prevented the export of Iranian crude oil valued at over $25 billion. This has prompted the U.S. administration to seek to plug the land-based routes that could allow Tehran to recoup some of these losses. Yet, shifting the focus from the sea to the land is no simple task. While U.S. forces can monitor maritime corridors and vessels—and directly intervene in shipping—land-based trade is dispersed across an extensive network of trucks, trains, and both official and unofficial border crossings. This network also involves a complex web of companies, intermediaries, and financial institutions, all of which are difficult to bring under a single, unified regulatory framework. Washington’s objective is not necessarily to halt all Iranian trade; rather, a more impactful goal is to target shipments with military or technological value—specifically components used in the manufacture of missiles, drones, and communication or guidance systems. In the context of a confrontation, a single specialized electronic component or piece of precision industrial equipment can be far more significant than dozens of trucks laden with consumer goods. Disrupting a component for which there is no readily available substitute could slow down a production line or delay an entire military program. Consequently, the success of the "Iron Gate" initiative will not be measured by the number of trucks blocked from entering Iran, but by its ability to disrupt supply chains, slow the reconstruction of Iran’s military capabilities, and increase the costs of circumventing sanctions. However, this strategy requires precise intelligence on supply networks, as well as cooperation from the countries through which these targeted shipments pass—cooperation that is far from guaranteed, given the divergent interests of these nations and Tehran’s proven ability to employ front companies and new intermediaries. The greatest challenge facing the U.S. plan lies not merely in tracking shipments, but in Washington’s ability to persuade the countries neighboring Iran to restrict their trade with the Islamic Republic. Tehran shares land borders with seven countries—Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan—and is also connected to Russia and the nations of Central Asia via the Caspian Sea.
These countries do not all view Iran through the same lens: some see it as a commercial partner and a corridor for transport and energy; others prioritize security concerns; while some seek to avoid becoming entangled in the U.S.-Iran confrontation.
Iraq and Turkey stand out as particularly sensitive factors in U.S. calculations, given the scale of their trade, economic ties, and geographical proximity to Iran. Iraq finds itself navigating a complex equation—balancing its strategic relationship with the United States against its deeply intertwined commercial and economic interests with Tehran—making any attempt to restrict cross-border trade a significant political and economic test for Baghdad. Turkey faces an even more intricate set of considerations; as a NATO member, it nonetheless maintains extensive trade, energy, and logistical ties with Iran. Ankara would likely prefer to tighten oversight on specific types of shipments rather than implement broad measures that could harm its own economic interests or effectively close off its borders. Trade figures reveal the scale of the challenge facing Washington. An analysis published by *Turkey Today* indicates that the volume of Iran’s non-oil trade with eight neighboring countries—including those bordering the Caspian Sea—reached approximately $42 billion during the 2024–2025 fiscal year. Turkey accounted for about $19.4 billion of this total, while Iraq accounted for $12.5 billion; together, they represent the most significant hubs in any U.S. effort to restrict Iran’s overland trade. These figures imply that Washington is not merely targeting peripheral corridors, but rather an extensive network of commercial interests that directly affect the economies of these neighboring states. This raises questions about whether these countries are prepared to bear the costs of implementing a U.S. strategy that may run counter to their own immediate interests.
The challenges are not limited to land borders. The Caspian Sea represents one of the most sensitive points in the "Iron Gate" strategy, serving as a corridor that links Iran to Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, and providing it with access to trade and logistics networks in the north. In this context, the Russia-Iran relationship takes on particular significance; Moscow is not merely a neighbor, but a political and military partner to Tehran, with a vested interest in maintaining lines of communication and exchange between the two nations.
Furthermore, Russia itself is subject to Western sanctions, making its participation in a U.S. plan to isolate Iran highly unlikely. In fact, mounting pressure may well serve to strengthen, rather than weaken, the cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. This presents an additional dilemma for Washington: how can the movement of supplies be monitored across a sea where the interests of five nations intersect, at a time when not all parties agree on the objectives or mechanisms of the American-led blockade?
Conversely, Iran possesses extensive experience in navigating sanctions, utilizing networks of intermediaries and front companies—a capacity honed over years of developing alternative mechanisms to secure its commercial and technological needs. Its long borders with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq—combined with rugged, mountainous terrain and regions that are difficult to fully control—provide opportunities for the continued movement of goods outside of conventional trade channels.
However, the capacity of these networks remains limited. While they can facilitate the transport of specific, high-value shipments or goods that are otherwise difficult to procure through official channels, they do not constitute a comprehensive alternative to formal trade, nor can they, on their own, satisfy the requirements of an economy the size of Iran’s. Consequently, Washington may be betting on making sanctions evasion increasingly difficult and costly—by monitoring intermediaries, shipping firms, and financial transfers, and by heightening the risks for any entities that engage with Iranian institutions.
Yet, this policy carries a counterproductive dimension: as pressure on formal trade intensifies, a larger share of economic activity is likely to shift into opaque channels. This strengthens the influence of intermediaries and parallel economic networks, while simultaneously undermining the ability of official institutions to exercise oversight and regulation. The repercussions of this American approach extend beyond the realms of economy and trade; they encompass security and military dimensions that could usher in a more volatile phase in the confrontation with Tehran. The closer Washington comes to disrupting supply lines that Iran deems essential to its national security, the greater the likelihood that such U.S. actions will be interpreted not merely as the enforcement of sanctions, but as a deliberate attempt to undermine Iran’s defensive capabilities. Tehran might respond by tightening controls at certain border crossings, leveraging its regional influence to pressure nations participating in the enforcement of these restrictions, or seeking other ways to disrupt the interests of the United States and its allies. Furthermore, expanding the scope of operations to target transport and logistics networks could lead to covert actions and security measures extending well beyond Iran’s own borders—particularly if the mission shifts from intelligence-sharing and the monitoring of shipments to direct intervention aimed at halting them. This raises a critical and highly sensitive question: to what extent can Washington tighten the economic noose around Iran without triggering a security or military escalation that widens the conflict and threatens the stability of regional trade corridors? While an "iron gate" approach might succeed in intercepting specific shipments, disrupting supply networks, increasing the costs of circumventing sanctions, and potentially delaying the reconstruction of certain Iranian military capabilities, transforming this mechanism into a comprehensive land blockade remains a far more complex challenge. Geography provides Iran with multiple access points, while the distinct economic and political interests of neighboring states make it difficult to forge a unified front behind a single U.S. strategy. Caught between Washington’s ability to impose selective restrictions and Tehran’s insistence on seeking alternative outlets, the "Iron Gate" remains a true test of the United States' capacity to transform maritime pressure into a multi-front blockade—all while ensuring that attempts to strangle Iran do not become an additional catalyst for expanding the regional confrontation.

Mossad Chief in Washington… Israeli Pressure to Resume War on Iran
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
Amid mounting Israeli pressure on the U.S. administration regarding a war with Iran, the American news outlet *Axios* reported that the head of the Israeli intelligence agency, the Mossad—Roman Gofman—is visiting Washington. This move coincides with efforts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push U.S. President Donald Trump toward resuming the war.
Meeting with the CIA Director
The outlet indicated that Gofman is set to hold a meeting with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, though no further details regarding the meeting's agenda were disclosed.
Anticipated Meeting with Witkoff
*Axios* added that Gofman is also expected to travel to Miami to meet with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, as part of a visit taking place amidst various maneuvers and communications concerning the Iranian file.

Eisenkot Challenges Netanyahu: "I Will Not Allow Arabs to Be Maligned"
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
In a stance reflecting deepening rifts within the Israeli political landscape, Gadi Eisenkot—the designated Prime Minister—has rejected attempts to tarnish the image of Arab citizens in Israel. This comes in response to attacks by outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies against Arab political parties, in which they sought to link these parties to the Hamas movement. On Friday, Gadi Eisenkot wrote on the platform X that "Arab citizens in Israel are an integral part of the Israeli story." He emphasized that while disagreeing with representatives of Arab political parties is legitimate, disparaging an entire community is "neither legitimate nor acceptable," adding, "I will not allow it."
Netanyahu lashes out at Arab parties
Eisenkot’s remarks came in response to statements made by Benjamin Netanyahu during the opening of the new Knesset this week, in which he accused Arab parties of seeking to establish an "Islamic state" or a "Palestinian nationalist state." The escalation was not limited to Netanyahu; Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir interrupted Yousef Jabareen—a member of the Joint List—during his swearing-in, accusing him of pledging allegiance to Hamas. Netanyahu and his allies have previously attacked leaders of Arab parties for refusing to label Hamas a "terrorist organization," even though those same leaders condemned the October 7, 2023, attack.
19 Arab seats at the heart of the battle to form a government
This confrontation takes on added significance given the parliamentary calculations involved in forming a new government. The two Arab factions—the United Arab List (Ra'am) and the Joint List—hold 19 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. Both factions had recommended that Eisenkot be tasked with forming the government, which could make their votes decisive when his proposed government seeks a vote of confidence—though this recommendation does not legally bind them to vote in his favor. Lieberman Threatens to Withdraw
Meanwhile, Eisenkot faces a rift within his own camp regarding the potential inclusion of Arab parties in the government, following a declaration by Avigdor Lieberman—leader of the "Yisrael Beiteinu" (Israel Our Home) party—that he would withdraw from the coalition should those parties join. On Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog tasked Eisenkot with forming a government, granting him a 28-day period—extendable by an additional 14 days—to complete a mission complicated by political disputes and complex coalition calculations.

A Defense Agreement Between Qatar and Turkey: Military Coordination Against External Attacks and Signals Regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
In a move reflecting a trend toward expanding military and security coordination and strengthening defense cooperation in the region, Qatar and Turkey have announced a mutual defense agreement. The pact entails adopting a unified stance in the face of any external armed attack targeting either or both nations, thereby bolstering their joint defensive capabilities and safeguarding their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The agreement extends beyond the purely military sphere; it also encompasses plans to broaden cooperation in defense industries, joint training exercises, and the exchange of expertise. These developments coincide with sensitive regional issues, most notably the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as the security of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a joint statement, Doha and Ankara affirmed that the recently signed mutual defense agreement aims to enhance collective defense capabilities and consolidate regional security and stability by aligning their positions against any external armed attack directed at either or both parties. Both sides emphasized that the agreement reflects a shared commitment to protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, alongside a vision aimed at contributing to a more secure and stable regional environment. Furthermore, they underscored that addressing common security challenges remains a strategic priority, as they continue to develop cooperation in the defense sector and elevate the level of military and security coordination between the two countries. As part of translating the agreement into practical steps, Qatar and Turkey have agreed to intensify consultations regarding threats to their respective security, while also addressing regional and international security issues and defense policies. The envisioned cooperation includes expanding joint military exercises, developing defense industries, and enhancing personnel training programs and the exchange of expertise—all aimed at boosting the readiness and military capabilities of both nations. In the same vein, both countries welcomed the signing of the multilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) known as "BADR"—which brings together Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia—viewing it as a further step toward strengthening collective defense capabilities and fostering local potential. This MoU paves the way for broader cooperation in joint military production, technology development, the exchange of information and expertise, and the bolstering of defense industry infrastructure and supply chains.
Against the backdrop of regional tensions, the joint statement also addressed developments concerning the conflict between the United States and Iran. Qatar and Turkey emphasized the necessity of reaching a resolution through dialogue and diplomatic channels, while also addressing the broader repercussions of the crisis on regional security and stability. Both sides underscored the importance of the understandings reached within the framework of the MoU between Washington and Tehran—or the pursuit of a new agreement—to ensure de-escalation and pave the way for a lasting peace. Furthermore, they reaffirmed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional states, and to protect civilians, facilities, and civilian infrastructure, while stressing that no nation should be subjected to threats or attacks as a result of the widening scope of regional tensions. In this context, both countries highlighted the importance of protecting states that play a role in diplomatic mediation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, thereby ensuring the continuation of efforts to contain crises and prevent them from escalating or spreading.
Regarding the security of maritime corridors, Doha and Ankara emphasized their rejection of any measures or restrictions that could hinder legitimate navigation. They called for the prompt and full restoration of safe, regular, and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
This stance carries particular significance given the Strait’s critical importance to global trade and energy supplies, as any disruption there could have repercussions extending well beyond the region. The position taken by both nations reflects the interconnectedness of defense issues with broader geopolitical and economic developments—especially as maritime security and de-escalation have become central concerns in regional and international calculations. These positions were articulated during the 12th session of the Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee, held on November 13, 2026, in Istanbul, and co-chaired by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Defense, military cooperation, and regional security—along with developments concerning the U.S.-Iran conflict and the security of the Strait of Hormuz—served as key focal points in the joint statement issued by the two sides. From a mutual defense agreement and the expansion of military industries to coordination regarding regional crises, the outcomes of the meeting reflect a Qatari-Turkish drive to deepen their strategic partnership—at a time when the region faces complex security challenges that place defense cooperation and the containment of escalation at the forefront of priorities.

Will J.D. Vance Withdraw from the 2028 Race? The War with Iran Shakes His Presidential Ambitions
Janoubia / November 13, 2026
The repercussions of the war with Iran and recent electoral losses have plunged the Republican Party into a period of political turmoil, raising questions about the future of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and his presidential ambitions for 2028. This comes amid deepening divisions within the "MAGA" movement and mounting tensions with President Donald Trump. CNN has reported that Vance is seriously considering the possibility of not running for president in 2028, following significant Republican losses in the midterm elections and intensifying political pressures linked to the war with Iran. Citing about a dozen of Vance’s allies and advisors, the network noted that the Vice President has yet to reach a final decision; he faces questions regarding his political future and his capacity to lead the movement that propelled Trump to the White House in 2024. According to the report, the war with Iran stands as a major obstacle to Vance’s presidential aspirations. One of his allies warned that the conflict’s continuation could extinguish any chance for Republicans to win in 2028, stating: "If the war in Iran doesn't end, no Republican will have a chance in the 2028 election." CNN reported that Vance, in a post on the platform X, blamed the war for the Republican defeat in the midterm elections—a move that, according to informed sources, displeased Trump. At the same time, the network cited sources as saying that Trump criticized Vance in private for failing to publicly defend the decision to enter the war, even though Vance himself had acknowledged the conflict as a primary cause of the electoral losses. In a notable development, the report stated that Trump instructed his vice president to stop pursuing the file on negotiations with Iran and to focus instead on combating corruption—a move that reflects a divergence in perspective between the two men regarding how to manage the period ahead. Despite these signs, Vance’s allies continue to view a potential presidential bid by him as a strong possibility, while Trump has yet to indicate whether he would support him in a future race. Meanwhile, other Republican figures—including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Ted Cruz—have begun making moves in preparation for the 2028 election cycle, amid growing questions about the future of the Republican Party and the "MAGA" movement in the wake of the midterm elections.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 12-13/2026 /(Some of the News reports below are tran
Syria Is Indoctrinating a New Generation of Terrorists So Much for Giving Al-Sharaa 'A Chance'
Robert Williams/Gatestone Institute/November 13, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/11/159231/
If al-Sharaa, a former arch-terrorist, had truly "distanced" himself from terrorism, you would think that grooming Syrian children for jihad (holy war) and martyrdom would not be at the top of his list. Yet, this appears to be exactly what is happening in Syrian schools....
"From the earliest grades, martyrdom is introduced as having a spiritually exalted status, while jihad is framed as both a moral and military duty tied to defending religion, the homeland, holy places, and the Islamic nation (ummah)." — From "The New Syria: Education Under al-Sharaa: Review of Syria's National School Curriculum, 2025–2026," authored by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se), August 2026.
"A Grade 8 Arabic Language textbook incites students to take up the fight against Israel for the Golan Heights, encouraging them to view sacrificing their own lives to reclaim this land as a noble and heroic act." — From "The New Syria: Education Under al-Sharaa: Review of Syria's National School Curriculum, 2025–2026."
In grade 10, students are taught that "joy remained incomplete as long as there remained even one piece of Arab land defiled by the filth of Zionist occupation." The students are furthermore taught, again through poems, to glorify violence and death in the name of "Palestine".
Overall, the textbooks present a civilizational hierarchy with Islam reigning supreme over Christianity and Judaism, which must both submit to Islam.
What does the Trump Administration think al-Shaara is doing? Does indoctrinating children with terrorism and jihad indicate, just perhaps, building the Islamic state that al-Shaara has fought for his entire terrorist career?
By having taken Syria off the list of state sponsors of terrorism and lifting sanctions, the US will sadly succeed in one thing only: The emergence of yet another radical, jihadist state.
The Trump Administration would be wise to put Syria right back on it.
If Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former arch-terrorist, had truly "distanced" himself from terrorism, you would think that grooming Syrian children for jihad (holy war) and martyrdom would not be at the top of his list. Yet, this appears to be exactly what is happening in Syrian schools. Pictured: Al-Sharaa is greeted by jihadists at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on December 8, 2024. (Photo by Abdulaziz Ketaz/AFP via Getty Images)
In August, the Trump Administration removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. It had also previously lifted sanctions "to create a new relationship between the United States and Syria."
"These actions were all taken in recognition of the positive actions taken and further commitments by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to fully distance Syria from acts of international terrorism," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time.
If al-Sharaa, a former arch-terrorist, had truly "distanced" himself from terrorism, you would think that grooming Syrian children for jihad (holy war) and martyrdom would not be at the top of his list. Yet, this appears to be exactly what is happening in Syrian schools.
According to a new report, "The New Syria: Education Under al-Sharaa: Review of Syria's National School Curriculum, 2025–2026," authored by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se), what can only be described as an Islamist indoctrination effort on steroids is taking place in the Syrian Arab school system from grades 1 through 12.
The report analyzed 130 textbooks from the Syrian Arab Republic's national school curriculum for the 2025-2026 school year and found that far from revising the existing school curriculum's emphasis "on jihad, martyrdom, sacrifice, and the glorification of both religious and secular heroes" the new curriculum has not only left it in place but is doubling down on it by, "across subjects and grade levels, continu[ing] to normalize and valorize violence, armed resistance, and self-sacrifice as central components of collective identity and moral duty.
"Themes of confrontation, martyrdom, and militant steadfastness are embedded within literary, historical, and religious instruction, presenting armed struggle not as a tragic necessity or last resort, but as an honorable and expected response to perceived injustice....
"From the earliest grades, martyrdom is introduced as having a spiritually exalted status, while jihad is framed as both a moral and military duty tied to defending religion, the homeland, holy places, and the Islamic nation (ummah)."
A couple of examples:
"A Grade 8 Arabic Language textbook incites students to take up the fight against Israel for the Golan Heights, encouraging them to view sacrificing their own lives to reclaim this land as a noble and heroic act.
"This is taught through a poetic verse about the Golan Heights, stating 'in every span of this soil [the Golan Heights], there is a fragrance from martyrdom or a remnant of a body.' Significantly, this verse appears within a sub-chapter dedicated to the concepts of shuhada (martyrs) and sacrifice for the nation."
In grade 10, students are taught that "joy remained incomplete as long as there remained even one piece of Arab land defiled by the filth of Zionist occupation." The students are furthermore taught, again through poems, to glorify violence and death in the name of "Palestine:"
"One particularly notable example is found in the Grade 12 Arabic Language textbook, in a lesson on 'The Bridge' by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, a poem dedicated to the Palestinian Right of Return after the Nakba, through imagery saturated with death, destruction, and suffering... Beyond its strong anti-Israel framing, the lesson's accompanying grammar exercises reinforce and normalize this violence... Students are asked to analyze lines describing a river spitting 'pieces of shredded meat' at its banks... and 'the migration of blood in the river's waters'... The incorporation of such imagery into routine linguistic exercises transforms scenes of bloodshed and death into ordinary pedagogical material, effectively aestheticizing violence."
Lessons also romanticize martyrdom:
"In a lesson on national and pan-Arab issues from the Grade 11 Arabic Language textbook, martyrdom is presented as one of the highest moral, national, and religious virtues" with the martyr "the ultimate embodiment of 'sacrifice, selflessness, and giving.' The lesson repeatedly romanticizes death in battle and political struggle through emotionally charged poetry and imagery, citing various poems which praise the sacrifices and martyrdoms of nationalist and pan-Arab militant 'heroes.'"
Jihad is taught from the earliest grades throughout grade 12 as a duty, which means a Muslim must fight "until achieving victory or martyrdom."
The duty of jihad is taught by having students "consider what measures they might take to 'defend the homeland and liberate occupied territories.'"
The authors of the report conclude:
"Taken as a whole, the curriculum constructs an educational environment in which self-sacrifice and militant struggle are not peripheral themes, but recurring motifs that shape historical consciousness, literary interpretation, and religious understanding. Historic events, poetic imagery, and Islamic concepts are repeatedly woven together to present armed resistance, martyrdom, and death in struggle as morally elevated and identity-forming ideals... encouraging pupils to perceive fighting and martyrdom as faithful continuations of revered historical struggles while simultaneously legitimizing and glorifying violence, killing, and sacrifice in the context of wars and revolutions...
"Looking ahead, this integration of armed resistance into multiple domains of study raises concerns regarding the promotion of peace-oriented values and the cultivation of critical, pluralistic perspectives."
In addition, the curriculum, unsurprisingly, teaches antisemitism: One grade 6 book on Islamic Education, for instance, teaches that "treason and backstabbing are among the traits of the Jews."
Overall, the textbooks present a civilizational hierarchy with Islam reigning supreme over Christianity and Judaism, which must both submit to Islam. Whereas Christians, however, can be "tolerated or protected under Islamic authority... Jews are repeatedly marked as dangerous, treacherous, financially immoral, punished, and in need of correction through Islamic moral authority."
This indoctrination was frankly all too predictable: Syria is run by a former arch-terrorist, who during his decades-long "career" was at first a close associate of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, and then went on to found Al Qaeda's branch in Syria, the Jabhat al-Nusra (Al-Nusra Front), which he led from 2012-2017. He then formed HTS as a conglomerate of various jihadist groups to replace the regime of Syria's then President Bashar al Assad with an Islamic state – and the Trump administration, in fact, removed the HTS' from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list.
What does the Trump Administration think al-Shaara is doing? Indoctrinating children with terrorism and jihad might just indicate that al-Sharaa is building to build the Islamic state that al-Sharaa has fought for his entire terrorist career.
By having taken Syria off the list of Foreign State Sponsors of Terrorism and lifting sanctions, the US will sadly succeed in one thing only: The emergence of yet another radical, terrorist, jihadist state.
The Trump Administration would be wise to put Syria right back on it.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22983/syria-is-indoctrinating-a-new-generation
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.

Hamas Destroys Gaza For Money, International Sympathy and So Israel Can Get the Blame
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/November 13, 2026
Even Palestinians are publicly accusing the terrorist group of obstructing efforts to help Gaza's population.
"Palestinian Authority employees inside Gaza have reported that professionals from the Ministries of Public Works and Relief Affairs were intimidated, summoned, and coerced by Hamas into signing pledges not to undertake humanitarian projects without the group's approval. According to their accounts, those who defied Hamas risked so-called 'field justice,' including beatings and worse." — Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, Palestinian political analyst, X.com, November 9, 2026.
"The terrorist group did not show any concern for the civilian lives that would be lost when the tower eventually collapses on its own, because it wants dead Palestinians and news of tragedy to keep Gaza in the news cycle and to gain global sympathy, hoping for more incoming resources and donations for the Strip's humanitarian and reconstruction needs that it could siphon. Additionally, Hamas has also been accused of obstructing construction projects intended to create safer communities for displaced Gazans in southern Gaza, prioritizing political control over humanitarian relief." — Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, X.com, November 9, 2026.
Hamas had also used equipment necessary for civilian life for military purposes. A video published by Hamas's own media outlets shows Hamas operatives dismantling water and sewage pipes in the Gaza Strip to use in manufacturing rockets to fire at Israel.
Humanitarian assistance, for Hamas as for other dictatorial regimes, is just another instrument for exercising its control. Through its selective distribution of tents, food, money and supplies, Hamas rewards loyalists, intimidates opponents, and strengthens its grip on the population.
Hamas especially benefits politically and economically from the continued misery of Gaza's residents. The more dramatic the humanitarian images, the greater the international pressure on Israel and the greater the sympathy and financial assistance directed to the Gaza Strip. It is like professional beggar women who deliberately blind their babies to make them "better beggars." Hamas retains its ability to exploit international aid and supplies for reconstruction while avoiding responsibility for its own failures.
Any involvement by US President Donald J. Trump's Board of Peace in addressing Gaza's humanitarian difficulties should not be limited to monitoring rainfall, coordinating winter supplies, and expressing "concern" about flooded displacement camps. These measures do not address the fundamental problem: Hamas remains armed, maintains its military infrastructure, and refuses to relinquish control of the Gaza Strip.
The Board of Peace urgently needs to be concentrating its efforts on ensuring that Hamas disarms, dismantles its military wing, and cedes control of the Gaza Strip. Without these fundamental steps, reconstruction and meaningful improvements in living conditions will remain hostage to the interests of a terrorist organization.
Finally, the international community must stop treating Hamas as an innocent bystander to Gaza's misery. Hamas launched the October 7, 2023 war, embeds its military infrastructure in civilian areas, diverts civilian resources to terrorism, and continues to reject the disarmament necessary for Gaza to move forward.
The Palestinians in Gaza do not need more crocodile tears from Hamas leaders or another round of international condemnations of Israel. They need to be liberated from the terrorist organization, as well as its patrons in Iran, who sacrificed their present and threaten their future.
As winter approaches, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are once again facing heavy rainfall, flooded tents, damaged shelters and miserable living conditions. Humanitarian assistance, for Hamas as for other dictatorial regimes, is just another instrument for exercising its control. Through its selective distribution of tents, food, money and supplies, Hamas rewards loyalists, intimidates opponents, and strengthens its grip on the population. Pictured: Gaza City after heavy rainfall on November 7, 2026. (Photo by Omar Al-Qataa/AFP via Getty Images)
As winter approaches, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are once again facing heavy rainfall, flooded tents, damaged shelters and miserable living conditions. Images of displaced families struggling through muddy streets and standing in waterlogged tents have triggered another wave of international condemnation of Israel — as planned.
The crucial question that gets largely ignored is: How come Hamas, the Iran-backed terrorist organization that continues to control the Gaza Strip, not only has done nothing to protect the people it claims to represent, but has actively obstructed help?
First, Hamas has repeatedly demonstrated that its military objectives take precedence over the welfare of the Palestinian population. The organization that invested enormous talent and resources in constructing a network of hundreds of miles of liveable underground tunnels and in manufacturing tens of thousands of rockets now appears unable — or unwilling — to make even the slightest effort to protect displaced families from annual winter flooding.
In fact, according to Palestinian officials and engineers, Hamas has been deliberately obstructing humanitarian projects to improve living conditions in the Gaza Strip.
Even Palestinians are publicly accusing the terrorist group of obstructing efforts to help Gaza's population.
Palestinian political analyst Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib wrote on X:
"The scandal surrounding Gaza's failed winterization efforts lays bare a grim reality: Hamas obstructed attempts to protect Palestinian civilians before the devastating winter storms that flooded tens of thousands of tents.
"Palestinian Authority employees inside Gaza have reported that professionals from the Ministries of Public Works and Relief Affairs were intimidated, summoned, and coerced by Hamas into signing pledges not to undertake humanitarian projects without the group's approval. According to their accounts, those who defied Hamas risked so-called 'field justice,' including beatings and worse.
"Another example was a proposal that was put forward to demolish several heavily damaged towers which were at risk of collapse from rainwater after extensive bombardment. According to those involved, Hamas blocked the removal of the 'Bank of Palestine Tower' in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood, reportedly arguing that it would 'collapse from the rain anyway.' The terrorist group did not show any concern for the civilian lives that would be lost when the tower eventually collapses on its own, because it wants dead Palestinians and news of tragedy to keep Gaza in the news cycle and to gain global sympathy, hoping for more incoming resources and donations for the Strip's humanitarian and reconstruction needs that it could siphon.
"Additionally, Hamas has also been accused of obstructing construction projects intended to create safer communities for displaced Gazans in southern Gaza, prioritizing political control over humanitarian relief.
"This is a reminder that Gaza's suffering is not only a consequence of war. It is also the result of a fascist and ruthless governing power that repeatedly places its own interests above the welfare of the people it claims to represent. The same terror group that helped bring catastrophe upon Gaza continues to obstruct efforts to mitigate its consequences."
Hamas is not just exploiting the suffering of Palestinians to make false accusations against Israel. It is also intentionally perpetuating it.
Hamas had also used equipment necessary for civilian life for military purposes. A video published by Hamas's own media outlets shows Hamas operatives dismantling water and sewage pipes in the Gaza Strip to use in manufacturing rockets to fire at Israel.
Pipes that should have supplied Palestinian families with water and supported basic sanitation have been systematically destroyed to manufacture weapons.
That was not an isolated incident. Hamas has long demonstrated its willingness to sacrifice the basic needs of Gaza's residents to achieve its military objectives. Hamas might well even prefer it: the worse the conditions of Gazan people look to the international community, the more money and sympathy come flowing to Hamas.
The consequences of those policies are now becoming apparent. While Hamas boasts about its ability to construct tunnels and manufacture rockets, Palestinians are denied even finding shelter from the rain.
Hamas's obstruction of humanitarian relief efforts has also drawn criticism from its Palestinian political rival, Fatah. In a statement, Fatah condemned Hamas for summoning employees of the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Labor, who work with relief agencies, and forcing them to sign pledges preventing them from continuing their professional and humanitarian work in Gaza.
Fatah clearly pointed out the contradiction between Hamas's accusations that the Palestinian Authority was failing to do enough to help Gaza's residents and Hamas's own actions in obstructing their relief efforts. According to Fatah, Hamas was misleading the public and evading responsibility for disrupting humanitarian operations.
Why would an organization claiming to defend the Palestinians prevent efforts to provide them with safer shelters?
Humanitarian assistance, for Hamas as for other dictatorial regimes, is just another instrument for exercising its control. Through its selective distribution of tents, food, money and supplies, Hamas rewards loyalists, intimidates opponents, and strengthens its grip on the population.
Hamas especially benefits politically and economically from the continued misery of Gaza's residents. The more dramatic the humanitarian images, the greater the international pressure on Israel and the greater the sympathy and financial assistance directed to the Gaza Strip. It is like professional beggar women who deliberately blind their babies to make them "better beggars." Hamas retains its ability to exploit international aid and supplies for reconstruction while avoiding responsibility for its own failures.
Hamas leaders, many of whom reside comfortably in Qatar and Turkey, are not sleeping in flooded tents or struggling to protect their children from the rain. What do they care? The ones who are, are the Palestinian families whom they leave in destitution and mud -- and whom they have seen time and again produce more compassion and financial help than they could ever have dreamed up.
Each time, the international media and so-called human rights groups rush to shore up Hamas's claims without even asking a question.
After the recent rainfall, Gaza's Hamas-run Government Media Office announced that approximately 70,000 tents belonging to displaced Palestinian families had been flooded within 12 hours. The figure was quickly repeated by various media organizations, including outlets that routinely pretend to present themselves as independent sources of information.
How was this number calculated? Who inspected the tents? How did Hamas establish the extent of the damage within such a short period of time, while the storm was still underway? These are normal questions that any responsible journalist should ask before even publishing figures supplied by a terrorist organization.
The same applies to Western politicians who appear to love to condemn Israel whenever images of Palestinian suffering emerge. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, directing his criticism at the Israeli government, described the flooding and the humanitarian situation in Gaza as unacceptable. Meanwhile, Hamas's obstruction of projects to protect displaced families received no attention at all.
According to Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), more than 91,000 tents and 8,200 truckloads of tarpaulins, blankets, winter clothing, and other supplies have entered Gaza with Israel's help since the beginning of their efforts to winterize the area. Israel also facilitated the entry of sanitation equipment, including 12 vacuum trucks, as well as fuel and supplies for pumping facilities.
Any involvement by US President Donald J. Trump's Board of Peace in addressing Gaza's humanitarian difficulties should not be limited to monitoring rainfall, coordinating winter supplies, and expressing "concern" about flooded displacement camps. These measures do not address the fundamental problem: Hamas remains armed, maintains its military infrastructure, and refuses to relinquish control of the Gaza Strip.
The Board of Peace urgently needs to be concentrating its efforts on ensuring that Hamas disarms, dismantles its military wing, and cedes control of the Gaza Strip. Without these fundamental steps, reconstruction and meaningful improvements in living conditions will remain hostage to the interests of a terrorist organization.
Finally, the international community must stop treating Hamas as an innocent bystander to Gaza's misery. Hamas launched the October 7, 2023 war, embeds its military infrastructure in civilian areas, diverts civilian resources to terrorism, and continues to reject the disarmament necessary for Gaza to move forward.
The Palestinians in Gaza do not need more crocodile tears from Hamas leaders or another round of international condemnations of Israel. They need to be liberated from the terrorist organization, as well as its patrons in Iran, who sacrificed their present and threaten their future.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22982/hamas-destroys-gaza
*Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
*Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.

The Gulf Army and Its Spirit
Mishary Dhayidi/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
At their latest meeting in Bahrain, the defense ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states approved the establishment of an advanced command for the Unified Military Command in Kuwait.
This is an excellent step taken at a crucial time. There is no need to dwell at length on the importance of joint Gulf defense cooperation, nor on the difficult circumstances facing regional security and what the days ahead may bring. The people of the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Arab world did not choose the Iranian regime, elect the American president or determine the composition of the Israeli government. Yet all these decisions affect their lives, bringing either danger or hope to our countries. The responsibility, therefore, is to take charge of our collective security.
This was, after all, one of the principal reasons the GCC was established more than four decades ago, alongside other objectives related to development, economic growth and strengthening the spirit of unity. But none of these goals can be achieved without ensuring security and building collective strength. Speaking about the defense ministers' meeting in Bahrain, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said the gathering reaffirmed the commitment to "continued coordination, cooperation and integration among our countries, helping to strengthen our military and defense capabilities to confront all challenges."In the same context, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi declared: "The security of our countries is a shared Gulf responsibility. Combining our military efforts strengthens our ability to protect our territories and resources and safeguard the security of our citizens and residents."
He also stressed that "the security of Saudi Arabia is an indivisible part of the security of all GCC states."Meanwhile, following a meeting of GCC interior ministers, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif emphasized that "the security of GCC states is indivisible," underscoring the importance of strengthening the joint Gulf security framework through concrete action plans to confront challenges and protect member states and their resources.
These are self-evident truths to anyone with sound judgment and foresight. Recent events have demonstrated as much. The missiles, drones, militias and cyber spies linked to the Iranian regime have spared no Gulf state, including Oman and Qatar. Nor can we overlook the aggression carried out by Iran's proxies in Yemen against Saudi Arabia and its people. We know the role played in Yemen by experts from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as the involvement of the Iraqi Khomeinist faction.
As the poet said:
May God reward adversity with every blessing,
For through it I learned to tell my enemy from my friend.
We say this, as does everyone who cares about the security, safety and strength of the Arab Gulf states: This is a time for rapprochement, cooperation and solidarity.
The solid foundation of that unity must come, first and foremost, from within the Gulf's own deeply rooted tree. And there is nothing wrong with extending its branches of cooperation to those beyond the shelter of its generous shade.

Ibn Rushd and the Question of War and Peace
Radwan al-Sayyed/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
This year marks the 900th anniversary of the birth of the philosopher and jurist Abu al-Walid Ibn Rushd of Cordoba (1126–1198). Over the past century, European and Arab scholars have shown the greatest interest in him and in publishing his works, second only to Ibn Khaldun. Writing about Ibn Khaldun is far easier, as he left behind the "Muqaddimah" and the "Tarikh" (History); researchers studying his theory of history or sociology suffice themselves with the Muqaddimah, with some claiming he failed to apply his theory in his Tarikh, even though most of them have never actually read it. As for Ibn Rushd, the bulk of his writings consists of commentaries, ranging from concise summaries to extensive treatises, on Aristotle's voluminous works. He also authored a book on jurisprudential disagreement, another debating Al-Ghazali, and two treatises engaging theologians on the methodologies of interpreting religious texts. I forgot to mention that he also wrote a book on medicine. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest, particularly among French researchers, in republishing Ibn Rushd's commentaries on Aristotle and translating them into French, as well as writing about his originality even within those commentaries and conducting renewed assessments of his influence on medieval European philosophy and its transition into the European Renaissance. Why this lengthy discussion about Ibn Rushd? Not merely because of his 900th anniversary, but also for his contributions to critiquing stagnation in "kalam" (speculative theology), philosophy, and Sufism, as well as his call for a demonstrative religious science and, finally, for his views, albeit sometimes attributed to Plato and Aristotle, on issues of war and peace.
In the chapter on "Jihad and Conduct of War" in Ibn Rushd's "Bidayat al-Mujtahid" ("The Distinguished Jurist's Primer"), we find him citing the views of the Maliki school approvingly, while adding that jihad is the purview of the state and that volunteering in it is inadvisable, as it has frequently led to disasters. In any case, fighting is defensive rather than offensive, as the holy Quran repeatedly states: "...and do not transgress."
Thus, Ibn Rushd pays little attention to issues of war, even though turmoil was widespread in Al-Andalus and the Maghreb. However, this tendency to overlook matters of armed conflict is also noticeable in his summary of Plato's book on politics, "The Republic". If two cities attack the author's virtuous city, the city must work to sow discord between the two attackers so that it allies with one against the other that harbors greater hostility. This understanding of Plato's military policies is not accurate. In reality, Plato is concerned with educating the guardians and protectors rather than external aggression against the city; he argues - and Ibn Rushd follows him approvingly - that the political city, through its wise governance, avoids most wars through politics, something that cities of militarization, spoils, and ignorance fail to do. In doing so, Plato's assertions come close to the advice we read in the "Al-Adab al-Sultaniyya" ("Mirrors for Princes"), in which the sultan relies on stratagems and wealth to avert foreign invasion. Another factor in the state's image to avoid war is having young men accompany their fathers into battle; if that is not possible, then at least setting up camps for them to train and prepare - something the enemy will undoubtedly see and thus, hesitate to attack the city. Ibn Rushd is pleased by Plato's advice, recalling the Quranic verse: "And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy." True preparation for war among both the Greeks and the Arabs is therefore aimed at avoiding it. Even if it does break out, you are prepared, so the enemy does not catch you by surprise and your ranks do not fracture.
Roughly three centuries separate Ibn Rushd and Ibn Khaldun. Yet Ibn Khaldun witnessed wars up close and participated in some of them, arguing that war is what gives rise to states, whereas Ibn Rushd - the jurist and philosopher - remained distant from wars, their ideologies, and their practices.
In Plato’s virtuous city, the belief is that the primary causes of war are internal; since the virtuous city harbors no internal causes for conflict, it consequently does not face external aggression. Plato asserts this despite his familiarity with Sparta’s wars against Athens. Ibn Rushd abhors war, yet in the jurisprudential chapter of his book "Bidayat al-Mujtahid" and in his commentary on Plato’s Republic, he found a theoretical framework under which to shelter in order to avoid war or mitigate its dangers.
If we examine Plato's and Ibn Rushd's arguments closely, we find that the "cardinal virtue" of this city of peace lies in its being a political, just, or virtuous city and as long as it remains so, it possesses immunity against wars. Centuries later, the German philosopher Kant argued in his essay "Perpetual Peace" that war cannot break out between constitutional states. When told, "Look at Napoleon's wars!" he replied: "Where is the constitution that authorizes Napoleon to wage war?"
And what does Ibn Rushd say if his virtuous city is surrounded by non-virtuous or ignorant cities, as both Plato and Ibn Rushd contend?

Israel... A Change in Faces or in Approach?
Dr. Amal Moussa/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
There is no doubt that the recent elections in Israel are significant in every sense. However, in the Israeli case specifically, and perhaps uniquely, anyone following political developments quickly realizes that the fall of Benjamin Netanyahu and the rise of Prime Minister-designate, former General Gadi Eisenkot, may be nothing more than a reproduction of the same political system and merely a change of faces. In reality, what is happening is playing for time and replacing one face with another that carries essentially the same features, regardless of the outward appearance. We fully understand that the crimes committed by Netanyahu are so heinous and contemptuous of all human values that wishing for his downfall becomes, for many, an achievement in itself. That is to say, one cannot ask a people who have lost their children, women, land, homes, and even trees for pure objectivity, or to recognize that his removal might grant Israel a fresh opportunity to salvage its image before a world that has begun to reconsider its stance toward it. We believe that betting on a fundamental shift in Israeli policy toward the Palestinian cause is unrealistic. Objective facts demonstrate that Eisenkot operates strictly beneath the ceiling set by Netanyahu and his allies. This is clearly manifested in the new prime minister's adoption of an absolute "veto" against the establishment of an independent Palestinian state - a position he explicitly declared during his recent election campaign.
This ideological alignment between the two men also extends to their military approach. Eisenkot is no man of peace, as published accounts indicate he was the actual architect of the 2008 developments, which relied on total destruction and the use of disproportionate force against civilians and infrastructure to impose deterrence - the very same approach used by successive Netanyahu governments to destroy infrastructure and the most basic necessities of life for the population in Gaza.
Moreover, the new prime minister's handling of the settlement file reveals a clear division of roles. While Eisenkot criticizes settler terrorism in order to improve Israel's international image and absorb the anger of Western capitals, news reports reveal that his security and political plans include no intention to dismantle major settlement blocs in the West Bank; rather, he views them as an integral part of Israeli national security.
Based on these deeply shared traits, betting that a difference between the two men will yield meaningful results in how the conflict is managed becomes, in our estimation, akin to an illusion manufactured by politics and elections - a mere shedding of the skin and nothing more. Therefore, the difference between the two men is one of appearance rather than substance: Eisenkot replaces Netanyahu's clamor and legal battles with the quiet demeanor of a discreet military man and an attempt to mend damaged diplomatic ties, yet ultimately both walk the very same roadmap - securing military superiority, killing the idea of establishing a Palestinian state, and relentlessly confronting it. In light of all these facts, it appears to us that the international momentum gained by the Palestinian cause in the wake of Netanyahu's crimes faces a different kind of challenge following these elections, with the rise of a new prime minister who seeks to market the occupation in a different, more indirect diplomatic language without altering its essence in any way.
Here lies the fear that the suffering of Gaza's residents will fall victim to the reprieve granted to Israel by the recent elections, and that a sense of complacency may set in regarding the gains achieved for the Palestinian cause. The most significant achievements for the Palestinian cause on the international stage are embodied in the rising wave of recognition of the State of Palestine as a step toward safeguarding the "two-state solution." Among the most significant gains is the unprecedented international legal prosecution before the International Court of Justice, where Israel faced, for the first time in its history, accusations of committing "genocide" in a case brought by South Africa and backed by dozens of countries. Furthermore, under rulings by the International Criminal Court, Netanyahu and ministers in his government became internationally wanted on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
We must also recall the major shifts in global public opinion and the widespread solidarity achieved. Perhaps the greatest shift capable of making a decisive difference in the future is the fracturing of unconditional support inside the United States. The crux of the matter: Israel's policies are not those of individuals, but an ideology governing whoever successively takes the helm of power. The challenge lies in ensuring the Palestinian cause does not waste time on illusory opportunities for course correction.

Al-Zaidi Returns from Tehran with No Answers
Mustafa Fahs/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 13/2026
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi rushed to Tehran under a cloak of complete secrecy. Yet in a country like Iraq - no different from most countries in the East - secrets are hard to keep, as it is well known that a secret ceases to be one once more than two people know it. Within hours, the visit that was meant to remain confidential became public knowledge, particularly after Tehran listened to him but sent him back without decisive answers. Mr. al-Zaidi may have heard encouraging words from the Americans and offered to convey them to the Iranian side. The young prime minister's enthusiasm, along with his inclination, like that of other regional leaders, to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, drove him to carry what he had heard to the Iranians. Practiced in their customary art of patient listening - and prone to over-scrutinizing whatever negotiators put forward - they nonetheless gave the mediators and messengers, as usual, responses the other side had no wish to hear, sending them back with answers requiring yet more mediators to unpack and interpret. The Iraqi mediation - or initiative, or window opening from Washington onto Tehran - may offer a fresh opportunity to avert confrontation. Yet the question never posed to the Iranian leadership is whether Tehran is willing to accept Iraqi mediation when it views Iraq itself as part of the arena of confrontation. Thus, al-Zaidi may have returned without complete Iranian answers, neither on the external track involving the United States, despite talk of understandings on several points, nor on the internal track concerning the armed factions. It is as though Tehran is deliberately refraining from intervening, leaving al-Zaidi to shoulder responsibility for his own choices, or else is in no rush to reorganize one of its key factions, which serves as the spearhead in any potential confrontation.
First, the impasse between the Iranians and Washington is widening, and even the positive atmosphere occasionally fostered by mediators quickly gives way to disappointment, especially as the Iranians remain convinced that the cost of confrontation is lower than the cost of a settlement, meaning the prospect of war remains the top option ahead of all others.
The second impasse lies in the ongoing dispute between al-Zaidi and certain Iran-backed armed factions, specifically Kataib Hezbollah, the most loyal to and closely tied with Tehran. Yet Iran, it appears, was not concerned with resolving the dispute between components of the Coordination Framework and al-Zaidi, even though it threatens the stability of authority and the political system in Iraq, particularly as rifts within the Shiite framework can no longer be mended through traditional means. It is clear that certain armed factions, by their very nature, refuse to comply with state demands, just as they refuse to heed the advice of their friends or partners. This obstinacy heightens the likelihood of a clash with the state and its institutions, particularly over the issue of restricting weapons to the state, which has become intensely sensitive for both its proponents and opponents. As the gap between the two sides widens, the capacity or desire for resolution and reconciliation fades, giving way to a growing inclination to seek an alternative solution - one that may prove no less costly than confrontation itself. Between the visits of al-Zaidi and other Iraqi leaders to Tehran, and the intensive Iranian visits to Iraq, it is clear that since the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, there is no longer an Iranian figure capable of exerting decisive influence over Iraqi authorities or compelling the armed factions to accept compromises. This does not necessarily signify a decline in Iran's role and influence, so much as a loss of effective tactical instruments whose absence has begun to affect the strategic core.

Question: Why do I face the consequences of Adam’s sin when I did not eat the fruit?
GotQuestions/November 13/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/11/159248/
Answer: The Bible says, “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). It was through Adam that sin entered the world. When Adam sinned, he immediately died spiritually—his relationship with God was broken—and he also began dying physically—his body began the process of growing old and dying. From that point on, every person born has inherited Adam’s sin nature and suffered the same consequences of spiritual and physical death.
We are born physically alive but spiritually dead. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Physical birth provides us with a sinful human nature; spiritual rebirth provides us with a new nature, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
It may not seem fair to be saddled with Adam’s sin nature, but it’s eminently consistent with other aspects of human propagation. We inherit some physical characteristics such as eye color from our parents, and we also inherit some of their spiritual characteristics. Why should the passing on of spiritual traits be any different from the transmission of physical traits? We may complain about having brown eyes when we wanted blue, but our eye color is simply a matter of genetics. In the same way, having a sin nature is a matter of “spiritual genetics”; it’s a natural part of life.
However, the Bible says we are sinners by deed as well as by nature. We are sinners twice over: we sin because we are sinners (Adam’s choice), and we are sinners because we sin (our choice). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are more than potential sinners; we are practicing sinners. “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away” (James 1:14). A driver sees the speed limit sign; he exceeds the limit; he gets a ticket. He can’t blame Adam for that.
“I did not eat the fruit.” True, but Scripture says that we, individually and as a human race, were all represented by Adam. “In Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22). A diplomat speaking at the United Nations may do or say things that many of his countrymen disapprove of, but he is still the diplomat—he is the officially recognized representative of that country.
The theological principle of a man representing his descendants is called “federal headship.” Adam was the first created human being. He stood at the “head” of the human race. He was placed in the garden to act not only for himself but for all his progeny. Every person ever born was already “in Adam,” represented by him. The concept of federal headship is clearly taught elsewhere in Scripture: “One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him” (Hebrews 7:9-10, ESV). Levi was born several centuries after Abraham lived, yet Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek “through Abraham.” Abraham was the federal head of the Jewish people, and his actions represented the future twelve tribes and the Levitical priesthood.
“I did not eat the fruit.” True, but all sin has consequences beyond the initial wrongdoing. “No man is an island, entire of itself,” John Donne famously wrote. This truth can be applied spiritually. David’s sin with Bathsheba affected David, of course, but it also had a ripple effect that affected Uriah, David’s unborn child, the rest of David’s family, the whole nation, and even Israel’s enemies (2 Samuel 12:9-14). Sin always has undesirable effects on those around us. The ripples of Adam’s momentous sin are still being felt.
“I did not eat the fruit.” True, you were not physically present in the actual Garden of Eden with the juice of forbidden fruit staining the corners of your guilty mouth. But the Bible seems to indicate that, if you had been there instead of Adam, you’d have done the same thing he did. The apple, as they say, doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Whether or not we think it’s “fair” to have Adam’s sin imputed to us doesn’t really matter. God says that we have inherited Adam’s sinful nature, and who are we to argue with God? Besides, we are sinners in our own right. Our own sin probably makes Adam look like a puritan in comparison.
Here’s the good news: God loves sinners. In fact, He has acted to overcome our sin nature by sending Jesus to pay for our sins and offer us His righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus took the death that was our penalty upon Himself, “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Note the words “in him.” We who were once in Adam can now be in Christ by faith. Christ is our new Head, and “in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Selected Face Book & X tweets on November 13/2026
Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) Leiter
A very important step. We should all strive for strengthening and broadening the Abraham Accords, which are a celebration of moderation over Iranian-exported extremism.
Congress can play a key role in making the Middle East a safer, more prosperous place.

Nadim Koteich@NadimKoteich
TRUMP JUST PULLED VANCE OFF THE IRAN FILE.
In a Truth Social post today, he ordered the VP to put his “complete and total attention” on alleged corruption and crime in Democratic-run cities (Minnesota, California, Illinois, etc.) instead of negotiations with Tehran. “We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We’ve got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait!”
Why this matters:
Vance had become the administration’s main diplomatic track on Iran, sending a letter to hardliner Mohsen Rezaei, floating a possible direct meeting, and working through Qatari and Pakistani intermediaries. Just days ago, reports said Trump had authorized him to lead renewed talks.
This is a sharp reversal. Trump is now publicly declaring that a deal is unnecessary and that U.S. leverage (Strait of Hormuz + frozen funds) is already sufficient.
The subtext: Vance recently broke ranks after the midterms, publicly blaming the Iran war for Republican losses and calling earlier advice to end the conflict “sound.” Trump’s move reasserts control, sidelines the dove in the room, and redirects Vance toward a domestic political fight. It also signals that the administration is leaning harder into pressure rather than diplomacy right now.Indirect talks through mediators may continue, but the vice president is no longer running them.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Turkey is building its empire, today received both rival Libyan government chiefs in addition to Sudan's army chief, Pakistani PM already in Turkey for maritime war games, Erdogan's son Bilal visited Lebanon (picture with parliament speaker, is scheduled to rally Turkey partisans in the Northern Sunni town of Tripoli).
Turkey maintains 85 bases on Syrian soil, occupies Iraqi land, has a naval base in Somalia, "gets angry" over Greece and Cyprus laying see cables without Ankara's approval.
Turkey is locking horns with each and everyone of its neighbors over border, land and maritime, and over their policies (on Kurds or other issues). All Turkey's neighbors that are not governed by the Muslim Brotherhood (like Syria) harbor great animosity toward the power-hungry Ankara.
But yeah, "Greater Israel" is the imperial problem. Go figure!

Shemuel Meir
https://haaretz.co.il/opinions/2026-11-12/ty-article-opinion/.premium/000001a1-d018-d292-abf9-fd7d2acc0000?utm_source=App_Share&utm_medium=Android_Native&utm_campaign=Share
Ehud Barak issues his most serious warning to date. Netanyahu is planning an operational provocation in the coming days, probably through the Mossad, that will force an immediate Iranian response involving missile launches, thus providing a pretext for war without Trump’s approval because it would be a supposedly defensive response. An immediate danger, and Eisenkot must be removed.

roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס
https://x.com/kaisos1987/status/2120998570501300366/video/1
Charles Jabbour, a member of the Christian Lebanese Forces party: I am not Israel’s ambassador to Lebanon; I want to be Lebanon’s ambassador to Israel. I have submitted a request to the president of Lebanon and the foreign minister’s office. I have started learning Hebrew.

Gadi Eisenkot - גדי איזנקוט@gadi_eisenkot
The return of statesmanlike, substantive discourse.
As the Sabbath approaches, a few words from me to you, my Israeli brothers and sisters, about the current situation:
1. Security - Yesterday I met with outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu and his military secretary. I will not, of course, go into the substance of the conversation. The security situation, as well as the domestic situation, requires close oversight of the government during this sensitive transition period. I made it clear that I would not allow a lack of oversight.
For me, Israel’s security comes before any other consideration and must never be used to gain political capital. This is also what I expect of everyone in office.
2. Efforts to form an emergency government - At the beginning of the week, I received the mandate to form a government from the President of the State. On that occasion, and afterward, I reached out to all parliamentary factions and to Knesset members who agree with the four principles I have set out, inviting them to enter negotiations to establish an emergency government under my leadership. This is not empty talk. I mean it.
I want to reiterate that I intend to leave no stone unturned and speak with every elected official who agrees with the four principles, with the aim of forming a stable government as soon as possible. This is what the moment demands, and this is the mandate you have given me. It would be a grave mistake not to do so.
I believe this is the right way to conduct the negotiations: to build a partnership, broaden the possibilities, advance creative cooperation and, above all, engage in a dialogue based on principles. Principles rooted in Israeli interests, and in those alone.
I am pleased to report that we are making progress in our discussions with potential partners, while also working to explore every option. I am approaching these efforts wholeheartedly, determined to do whatever it takes to form a good, stable and beneficial government under my leadership—there is no alternative.
3. Harnessing the Knesset’s parliamentary majority - Alongside our negotiating efforts, we are putting the Knesset’s changeable majority to work, with determination and speed. In the first three days of the 26th Knesset, we established the House Committee, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Finance Committee, appointed outstanding people and began legislative proceedings to establish a state commission of inquiry, alongside repealing laws that harmed democracy. The days when the outgoing government played on a “vacant field” with impunity are over. The Knesset will once again be the people’s home. The home of all the people. On our watch, there will be no more hurling insults at bereaved families, nor any abuse of the authority the people have given us against other parts of the people. The Knesset of Israel will carry out the clear will of the majority of Israel’s citizens and fulfill its role as an effective, statesmanlike oversight body.

Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער
Today I initiated proceedings to revoke the citizenship of Ziad Mahmoud Aref Jabarin.
Jabarin was convicted of serious security offenses and served 20 years in prison.
He receives money from the Palestinian Authority in connection with the acts of terrorism he committed. At the end of the citizenship revocation process, and in accordance with the law, I will act to deport him from Israel. The State of Israel cannot and should not tolerate the abuse of its citizenship by scoundrels who join forces with its enemies to harm it and its citizens!

L'Œuvre d'Orient
In southern Lebanon, five Christian villages are calling for help!
Rmeich, Aïn Ebel, Debel, Qaouzah and Alma el-Chaab are asking Catholic Church leaders to secure their future, the safety of their residents and the return of displaced people.
Despite shortages and destruction, they refuse to abandon their land.
A call for solidarity to preserve their presence and their future.

Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith
Last week, the newly elected Muslim senator from Michigan proudly announced his state is now the “capital of Arab America.”This week, the newly elected Muslim senator from Michigan announced he will become the first U.S. senator in history to take the oath of office using a Quran.
What are we doing here?
Regardless of what any political polls or media headlines may say in the future, I promise to fight every single day to make sure this never happens here in Indiana.
As a Christian man who loves America, I will simply never apologize for believing Sharia Law has no place in our country and that we should always be one nation under God.
Joshua 1:9 tells us to be bold and courageous.
Now let’s get to work!