English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For October 16/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.october16.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no
repentance
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
15/03-07/:"Jesus told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred
sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness
and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he
lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together
his friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found
my sheep that was lost."Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no
repentance."
Titles For The English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials
published on October 15-16/2026
Lebanon’s Judiciary is Kidnapped and the Military Court Protects the
Iranian Occupation… The Complaint Against Ambassador Nada Mouaouad is a Scandal
and an Insult to the Judiciary, to the President of the Republic, and to the
Government/Elias Bejjani/October 15/2026
The Martyrs of October 13, 1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of Them and of Lebanon,
and His Descent into the Illusions of Power and Money/Elias Bejjani/October
13/2026
Araghchi Aide in Beirut Assesses Concerns of Shiite Duo
Hezbollah Says Explosives Shipment Seized by Authorities Belongs to Group
Israeli Threat to Expand Lebanon’s Occupation, Displace More Than a Million
Lebanese
Aoun Asks Rubio to Press Israel to Halt Aggression; Army and Security Forces
Fully Performing Their Duties
MP Paula Yacoubian Objects to US Ambassador Michel Issa’s Request to Repeal Law
Criminalizing Contact with Israelis
Presidential Statement Following the Call Between Rubio and Aoun
Lebanese-Israeli Military Meetings in Tampa, Excluding Political Negotiations
Central Bank of Lebanon Revokes License of Iran’s Bank Saderat / Bloomberg
reported that the Central Bank of Lebanon has revoked the license of the Iranian
"Bank Saderat."
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah Admits: The Explosives Belong to Us!
American Task Force for Lebanon: Washington Favors a New Verification Mechanism
Explosives Shipment Prompts Call Between Aoun and Rubio; Hezbollah Claims
Ownership
Fadlallah Warns Authorities Against Escalating Measures Targeting Its Arsenal
Lebanese Forces Ministers Withdraw from Cabinet; Complaint Against Moawad
Shelved
Renewed Warnings for Lebanon: Beware of Hezbollah’s Intervention... But the
Decision Rests with the Revolutionary Guard!/Lara Yazbek/ Al-Markaziya/October
15, 2026
Tehran Evades Beirut While Washington Confronts It on the Issue of Arms
Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Meets Berri: A Visit to Strengthen
Coordination
5 million euros from Germany to Lebanon!
Hezbollah Aid to Displaced Families Raises Questions Over Funding Sources
What Do Lebanon's Shiites Think of Hezbollah
Aoun Denies Allegations Against Lebanese Ambassador to Washington, Says
Negotiations With Israel Have Not Stopped
Complaint Against Lebanon’s Ambassador to U.S. Closed by Military Court
Prosecutor
Rubio to Press Aoun on Hezbollah Arms, C4 Shipment in High-Level Call
Hezbollah MP Defends Seized Explosives, Says Materials Belong to the
“Resistance”
Lebanon’s Central Bank Revokes License of Iran’s Bank Saderat
Rubio to Aoun: Returning Explosives Shipment to Hezbollah "Must Not Be an
Option"
US Secretary of State Urges Lebanese President to Hold Accountable Those Who
Ordered, Funded, and Managed the Shipment
Rubio Calls for Holding Hezbollah Accountable; Aoun Responds: Committed to
Confiscating Its Weapons
Warning Messages from Rubio... and Iran Stands Firm: Will Qatar’s Initiative
Succeed?/Mounir Al-Rabie/Al-Modon/October 16/2026
A Shipment of Explosives Against Fragile Internal Stability/Abdel Wahab
Badrakhan/An-Nahar October 15/2026
Between the Fires of the South and the Sword of Sanctions: Lebanon Under
Financial and Military Pressure/Mounir Al-Rabie/Al-Modon/October 15/2026
Washington monitors Lebanon's "deep state" and is disturbed by the law
boycotting Israel/George Hayek/Al-Modon/October 16, 2026
What Can the EU’s New Force Offer Lebanon?/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is
Beirut/October 15/2026
Hezbollah Faces Growing Shia Backlash but Retains Its Grip on the Ground/Claudia
Groeling & Ralph Atrach/This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on
October 15-16/2026
CENTCOM Refutes Iran’s Claims Regarding Hormuz and Confirms Continued
Navigation
US-Israel-Iran Escalation Raises Regional Alert Level
Trump Cancels Live Broadcast of Nidal Hasan’s Execution
Washington Divided Over Renewed Strikes on Iran
Pezeshkian: Iran is Facing its Most Intense Blockade since 1979
US Considers Hitting Iran with 'Mother of All Bombs'
US, Israel Differ Over Timing of Strike on Iran
Germany jails two individuals who plotted to assassinate Jewish leaders on
behalf of Iran
Saudi-Led Coalition Says 127 Houthi Weapons Storage Sites Destroyed, Vows
Continued Operations
Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran of Encouraging Houthis in Latest Escalation
Houthi Attack on Presidential Palace in Yemen's Aden kills 4
Coalition: Houthis Must Immediately Halt Terrorist Attacks on Civilian
Facilities
2 Ships Ablaze in Romanian Black Sea Waters, 7 Sailors Missing
Fighting Deepens Pressure on Taiz as Houthi Leaders Captured
Al-Maliki Warns Houthis to Read Coalition Statement Carefully
War in the Heart of Hebron: 500 Settlers Share Daily Life with Thousands of
Palestinians
Ali Kayali, Main Suspect in 2013 Baniyas Massacre, Arrested
CENTCOM Tests Advanced Drone Capabilities in the Middle East
With Anger Spreading over Iran War, Democrats Hope to Flip Republican Seats with
Veterans' Help
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on October 15-16/2026
No Elections, No Reform: The Palestinian Authority's Endless Excuses Are
the Smallest Part of the Problem/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/October
15, 2026
Putin's 'Ceasefire' Trap/Pierre Rehov/Gatestone Institute/October 15, 2026
Sudan: An Opportunity for Dialogue/Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al-Awsat/October
15/2026
Syrian-Libyan Rapprochement is a Positive Step/Dr. Jebril El-Abidi/Asharq Al-Awsat/October
15/2026
What's Next after the Houthi Attacks on Saudi Civilian Airports?!/Hassan Al
Mustafa/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15/2026
Regional Alliances Confronting the Iranian Narrative/Amr el-Shobaki/Asharq Al-Awsat/October
15/2026
Official Iraq "Aware": A Heavy Blow Against "Iran-Aligned Factions"/Amer Al-Hantouli/Al-Modon/October
16, 2026
Azerbaijan and Ankara: Two Secular States Whose Interests Are Tested by the
Hijab/Said Issa/Al-Modon/October 16, 2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on October 15/2026
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on October 15-16/2026
Lebanon’s Judiciary is Kidnapped and
the Military Court Protects the Iranian Occupation… The Complaint Against
Ambassador Nada Mouaouad is a Scandal and an Insult to the Judiciary, to the
President of the Republic, and to the Government
Elias Bejjani/October 15/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/158299/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjqWyVZwwjU&t=10s
There has been no judiciary in Lebanon since the era of the barbaric Syrian
occupation. What exists is a security and judicial branch of the Iranian
occupation axis, run by the terrorist Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih
Berri, the king of corruption and corrupting, Iran’s parliamentary front and its
ugly tool behind which the leaders of the terrorist Hezbollah hide.
It is a confiscated judiciary, fully controlled. Its mission is not to enforce
justice, but to intimidate and terrorize, the Lebanese, to muzzle them, and to
pursue anyone who rejects the lie of the “Resistance” and its Iranian
enterprise.
Hezbollah, with its diabolical mindset, has invented a cheap method of
intimidation: an army of lawyers working for it, whose sole task is to file
reports and complaints against every free Lebanese — journalist, activist,
writer, business owner, ordinary citizen. The charge is ready-made and canned:
“Insulting the Resistance,” “Cursing the Resistance,” or the most vulgar and
common charge: “Violating the laws that consider Israel an enemy.” They practice
full-fledged legal prostitution, and their insolence, debauchery, and political
prostitution have reached the point of filing a claim against Lebanon’s
Ambassador to Washington, Mrs. Nada Hamadeh, because she performed a basic
humanitarian act and contacted her colleague, the Israeli Ambassador in
Washington, to wish his son a speedy recovery after he was targeted in a
terrorist attack by a Palestinian jihadist criminal in the West Bank.
What inhuman depravity is this? Disabled minds and anesthetized — if not dead —
sensibilities. How could Ambassador Hamadeh not contact her colleague, the
Israeli Ambassador, when she heads the Lebanese dialogue delegation with Israel
and spends long hours with him in dialogue and in preparation for it?
In the same context, Hezbollah singles out with its claims honorable, free and
sovereign activists such as the writer and director Youssef Khoury, against whom
the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council — which is nothing more than a religious arm
of Hezbollah — filed a claim on charges of “Insulting the Karbala incident.” And
in this domain we have dozens of claims filed by Hezbollah against anyone who
does not agree with and cheer for their lie, their deception, and their
Persian-Iranian trade in bloody and farcical theatrics of what is called
“resistance.”
The Lebanese Constitution does not name Israel as an enemy, nor any other state:
Contrary to the lies of Hezbollah’s media, there is not a single text in the
Lebanese Constitution that defines or imposes enmity toward Israel or any other
state. This is an established legal fact; as the legal and historical framework
of Lebanon’s relationship with Israel was not defined by the Constitution, but
by the General Armistice Agreement of 1949, which remained a foundational point
in the Taif Agreement that became the current Constitution. The Constitution in
its preamble says only that Lebanon is a sovereign, free, and independent
homeland, a final homeland for all its sons, committed to the charters of the
United Nations and to coexistence. As for defining the enemy, it left it to
practice and deed, i.e., to whoever violates sovereignty and occupies land. And
here we say it clearly: He who fits the constitutional definition of the enemy
today is Hezbollah itself, because it is the one that violates the Constitution,
occupies the country and confiscates its decision, contradicts the charter of
coexistence, and violates sovereignty by land, sea, and arms.
Where then did the charge of “the enemy” come from? From two expired ordinary
laws:
A- The Law Boycotting Israel, issued on June 23, 1955: Issued under Camille
Chamoun in compliance with the resolutions of the Arab League, and stipulates in
its first article that: “It is prohibited for any natural or legal person to
conclude by himself or through an intermediary an agreement with bodies or
persons residing in Israel or belonging to it by nationality or working for its
account or for its benefit, whenever the subject of the agreement is commercial
transactions or financial operations or any other dealing whatever its nature.”
Noting that all Arab states have completely abandoned this law and most of them
have concluded peace agreements with the State of Israel.
B- The Lebanese Penal Code:
Article 285: “Shall be punished by imprisonment for at least one year and a fine
of no less than two hundred thousand Lebanese pounds, every Lebanese and every
person residing in Lebanon who undertakes or attempts to undertake, directly or
through a borrowed person, a commercial deal or any purchase or sale or barter
deal with one of the nationals of the enemy or with a person residing in the
enemy’s country.”
Article 286: “Shall be punished with the same penalty whoever contributes to a
loan or subscription for the benefit of a hostile state.”
Articles 278 and following: Criminalize contact with the enemy with the intent
to oppose state projects, and its penalty reaches life imprisonment with hard
labor.
These articles were enacted to punish commercial and financial deals and
military espionage, not to punish a humanitarian contact or diplomatic dialogue
carried out by Lebanon’s official Ambassador who heads the negotiating
delegation.
The Armistice Agreement nullifies absolute enmity: And this is the knockout blow
to all of Hezbollah’s bravado and heresies. The Lebanese-Israeli Armistice
Agreement signed in Ras al-Naqoura on March 23, 1949, under the auspices of the
United Nations, does not mention the word “enemy” at all in its full text
published in the United Nations archive.
The terms used in the text are:
“The parties to the present agreement”
“facilitate the transition from the present truce to permanent peace in
Palestine”
Article One affirms “mutual guarantees” and “the right of each party to its
security,” and Article Two affirms that the provisions of the agreement are
“dictated exclusively by military considerations” and do not prejudice the final
peaceful settlement. In international law, states that sign an armistice
agreement between them, define an armistice line, and establish a joint
armistice commission, are no longer legally in a state of absolute enmity, but
in a state of temporary truce paving the way for permanent peace. The agreement
itself stipulates that it remains in force “until a peaceful settlement between
the parties is achieved.”
So, how can the humanitarian contact of Lebanon’s Ambassador be a crime of
“contact with the enemy,” while the Lebanese state itself is a signatory with
this party to an armistice agreement recognized by the United Nations until
today? Ambassador Mouaouad is also officially tasked by the President of the
Republic and the Government with the negotiating mission with the State of
Israel that she is carrying out.
The truth is that it was not Israel who violated the truce and abrogated it, but
Lebanon when it allowed, since the Cairo Agreement of 1969, Palestinian
terrorist organizations and then the terrorist, jihadist Hezbollah — a criminal
organization — to use its land as a platform for war against Israel, which
transformed Lebanon from a truce state into a state of aggression.
The Military Court… The Court of the Inquisition
And here comes the most dangerous role: the role of the Military Court, which
should be called the Military Court of Hezbollah and Nabih Berri. It is the one
that encroaches upon free people and issues unjust, illegal, and
unconstitutional judgments against them, in literal implementation of
Hezbollah’s agenda. The court is not a court, but rather a tool of repression
and a sword hanging over the necks of Lebanese who reject the Iranian occupation
and before that rejected and resisted the Syrian occupation. Therefore, the
national and legal demand is clear: abolish and close the Military Court
immediately, annul all judgments it has issued, and prosecute the judges who
headed it because they betrayed their oath and betrayed justice.
The Lebanese judiciary must free itself from the yoke of the corrupt and
heretical Berri and from the jihadist and terrorist Hezbollah, and must
categorically refuse to accept any complaint filed by Hezbollah or its lawyers,
against anyone and for any reason. And why? Because legally, Hezbollah is an
illegitimate organization and outside the law in accordance with the decisions
of the current Lebanese government itself, which approved the exclusivity of
arms in the hands of the state. It is an illegal armed militia, a criminal
organization that assassinated hundreds of Lebanese and thousands of Syrians,
and carried out for Iran hundreds of terrorist operations in dozens of
countries, and is listed on the terrorism list of the Arab League and in dozens
of regional and international countries, noting that the United States
classifies it as a terrorist and criminal group fully affiliated with the
Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Sound legal logic does not call for accepting the complaints of Hezbollah and
Nabih Berri, but for dissolving Hezbollah and dismantling all its institutions,
confiscating its properties, and prosecuting its leaders as war and terrorism
criminals.
The Constitution does not name Israel as an enemy by name, nor any other state,
but defines the enemy by its actions. And the enemy is he who occupies the land,
confiscates the decision, assassinates those who oppose him, destroys the
economy, displaces citizens, and openly declares his absolute subordination to a
foreign state. And this description applies 100% to Hezbollah itself.
The question is: Why doesn’t a single Member of Parliament step forward in
Parliament — and only one MP is required, not ten as is rumored — with a bill to
abolish all laws and legislation that prohibit a Lebanese citizen from dealing
with Israelis and the State of Israel, in the same free and unrestricted manner
as he deals with all other countries of the world?
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website:
https://eliasbejjaninews.com
The Martyrs of October 13, 1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of
Them and of Lebanon, and His Descent into the Illusions of Power and Money
Elias Bejjani/October 13/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/112651/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71ovkF-d5XA
The martyrs blessed us with their sacrifice and freely and
joyfully gave us their lives because they believed in the words of the Lord
Jesus Christ: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends” (John 15:13). Surely, the heroic martyrs of October 13, from
their graves, are crying out in thunderous voices: “Not a single leader has ever
passed by our graves without each one of us shouting in his face: ‘Where is my
blood, you man? Where is the justice for which I died?’”
The height of hypocrisy is for some people to commemorate the martyrs of October
13 and raise their banners while, today, they are allied with those who killed
them, slaughtered them, and desecrated their bodies. This is self-deception,
political depravity, deadly narcissism, and a desecration of the sanctity of
martyrdom. Today, with sorrow and grief, we remember the righteous martyrs who
fell on October 13, 1990, along with all the heroic martyrs of the Land of the
Cedars, who watered Lebanon’s soil with their pure blood.
We remember the civilians and military personnel who were martyred with courage
and bravery as they confronted the invading and occupying Syrian Baathist army,
accompanied by its columns of Trojan collaborators and local mercenaries. They
fought in defense of the Land of the Cedars, its mission, history, humanity, and
independence. Today, we also remember, with bitterness and anguish, the hundreds
of our people—monks, military personnel, and civilians—who were abducted by the
Syrian occupation army and its mercenaries and transferred to the Nazi-like
detention centers of the Assad regime. Their fate remains unknown to this day.
We recall their heroism and imagine them today, in our hearts and minds, turning
restlessly in their graves in anger and sorrow over what has become of their
beloved homeland, whose soil they watered with their blood and for which they
sacrificed their lives.
The martyrs of October 13, and all the martyrs of the Land of the Cedars who
preceded and followed them, must surely be cursing, from their resting places as
they await the Resurrection, every ruler, politician, party official, power
broker, and citizen who has forgotten their sacrifices and failed to honor their
blood. These modern-day Judases trade in the blood of the martyrs to serve their
own agendas of power rather than the interests of the homeland and its people.
These Judases among the rulers and the merchants of political parties have
trampled over the blood of the martyrs, sold out dignity and independence,
bartered sovereignty for political seats, and surrendered to the fait accompli
in humiliation and submission. They have learned to coexist with the Iranian
occupation, its weapons, and its state within a state, their consciences
anesthetized after losing their national and spiritual compass. They have sunk
into the mire of tribal instincts and collaboration, following the broad roads
against which the Holy Gospel warned us.
Yet, thanks to the sacrifices of these righteous martyrs, including those who
fell on October 13, 1990, and despite all the hardships and suffering, as well
as the reality of the Iranian occupation and the terrorism imposed upon our
homeland, we continue to enjoy complete freedom within ourselves, in our
consciences, and in our faith. Our dignity remains intact, and our heads remain
held high.
The martyrs are the grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died to bear
much fruit. They are the leaven that continually renews the determination,
pride, conscience, and spirit of Lebanon’s free people, enabling them to
continue, with faith, courage, piety, and dedication, along the path of
martyrdom, Calvary, crucifixion, and Resurrection.
Lebanon, the Land of the Cedars, is the land of holiness, redemption, and
mission; the den of the free and the martyrs, and a refuge for every oppressed
and weary soul. This is what Lebanon has always been, and this is what it shall
remain until the last day and the Resurrection.
It is the duty of every believing and freedom-loving Lebanese citizen to bear
witness to the truth without fear or hesitation and to raise high the banners of
faith, brotherhood, freedom, love, generosity, and tolerance.
Saint Paul the Apostle says in his Letter to the Romans (8:31–32):
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall
he not with him also freely give us all things?”
In conclusion, yes, God is with us, and Lebanon is in His heart. He stands with
every free and sovereign-minded Lebanese citizen confronting the Iranian
occupation, its Trojan collaborators, and its local instruments.
Therefore, no matter how varied their colors and weapons may be, the wicked, the
demonic factions, the terrorists, the fundamentalists, and the isolationists
will never succeed in breaking our spirit, imposing their diabolical will upon
us, or forcing us to accept their rigid and intolerant way of life.
Thank you to every martyr who took up the arms of love and offered his life as a
sacrifice upon the altar of the Land of the Cedars so that Lebanon might remain
free, sovereign, and independent.
Thank you to the families of these great martyrs, distinguished by their faith
and patriotism, for bringing such righteous heroes into the world. And thank you
to Lebanon’s sacred soil, which gave birth to martyrs and embraced their pure
remains.
Note: This article and its accompanying video are from the 2025 archive.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com
Araghchi Aide in Beirut Assesses Concerns of Shiite Duo
Beirut: Mohamed Choucair/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15/2026
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s call with Lebanese President Joseph
Aoun coincided with the arrival in Beirut of his aide, Saeed Khatibzadeh, as
Tehran moved to reassert its presence in Lebanon after a prolonged absence.
Well-informed Lebanese sources said the Iranian push came amid differences with
Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam over their approach to Lebanon, while Tehran
also sought to contain tensions caused by the withdrawal of Mohammad Reza
Sheibani’s credentials as Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. Araghchi and Aoun agreed
on the need to support diplomatic solutions as the best way to end conflicts in
the region, according to the Lebanese presidency. The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat
that Araghchi told Aoun Iran remained committed to the Iranian-American
“memorandum of understanding” and to implementing all its provisions, including
one calling for an end to wars on all fronts, Lebanon among them. He blamed the
United States for the failure to implement the agreement, accusing Washington of
imposing “impossible conditions whenever we come close to implementing it” and
saying mediators had continued trying to persuade it to return to negotiations
rather than threaten renewed war.
Political message
The sources said Araghchi’s call was intended to send a political message that
Tehran remained present in the Lebanese file and that “the tension caused by the
withdrawal of Ambassador Sheibani’s credentials is now behind us.”They said the
issue no longer blocked renewed contact with Aoun, who, along with most Lebanese
political forces, remains committed to the “framework agreement” and has no
intention of replacing it with the Iranian-American “memorandum of
understanding.” Hezbollah’s opponents, meanwhile, viewed Khatibzadeh’s Beirut
visit as primarily Shi’ite-focused and aimed at assessing the concerns of the
“Shiite duo,” Hezbollah and the Amal Movement. The sources said that explained
his meetings with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah’s leadership. The
contrast in tone was clear. Diplomacy dominated Araghchi’s call with Aoun.
Khatibzadeh, by contrast, spoke in much harsher terms. He was quoted as telling
journalists that “negotiations are pointless, and we are preparing for the
worst-case scenarios,” and that direct talks between Lebanon and Israel would
lead nowhere because Israel was “an occupying entity.”He said Israel wanted to
use negotiations as a first step toward expanding its dominance across the
region and ultimately achieving what is known as “Greater Israel.”“As long as
the Israeli occupation remains in southern Lebanon, the resistance will remain,
weapons will continue to be necessary, and anyone who cares about Lebanon’s
interests should support this approach,” he was quoted as saying. Asked about
ties between Iran and Hezbollah, Khatibzadeh said the relationship was “not
hierarchical, from the top down,” and that Iran did not interfere in Lebanese
affairs, which were “left to the Lebanese themselves.” He also claimed that
“Hezbollah does not ask us what it should do, but it sometimes asks us how it
can be more steadfast and tougher in confronting the enemy, while avoiding
asking us about Lebanon’s internal affairs.”
Iran-US negotiations
Khatibzadeh also addressed Iranian-American negotiations, saying there was
little prospect of an agreement. “The chances of reaching an agreement are, so
far, nonexistent, as shown by previous experience when Washington launched a war
against us while negotiations were still underway,” he was quoted as telling
journalists. He also pointed to differences within the United States, saying one
camp did not want to implement the provisions of the “memorandum of
understanding,” while another had sought an agreement. “The administration of US
President Donald Trump is suffering from internal fragmentation. Otherwise, had
it honored its commitments, we would have reached an agreement,” Khatibzadeh
said. He added that the United States’ power had been broken and would be broken
again. Asked about the direction of events in the region, he said “Political
realism requires us to say that, until further notice, we have the right to
prepare for the worst-case scenarios in the face of American threats.”
Iran’s relations with Syria
On Syria, Khatibzadeh said Iran was “in no hurry.” “We are ready to communicate
with Syria when it decides to do so. It is currently going through a sensitive
and dangerous phase, and Türkiye committed a strategic mistake and contributed
to the Israeli-American ‘puzzle,’ one result of which was that Syria handed
Israel a gift,” he said. The sources said, therefore, that Khatibzadeh’s
meetings in Beirut reflected no change in Iran’s position. His remarks, they
said, were meant to stress Tehran’s adherence to its existing stance, which
largely aligns with Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem’s rejection of the
“framework agreement.” The sources asked whether Khatibzadeh had carried a
message aimed largely at stirring opposition to the “framework agreement,”
without naming it directly, in contrast with Araghchi’s emphasis to Aoun on
diplomatic solutions. Araghchi’s diplomacy was thus met by a much harder line
from his aide, raising the question of whether Khatibzadeh was conveying a
message closer in substance to the position of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards than
to that of the political camp Araghchi represents within the Iranian
establishment. Otherwise, the sources said, he would not have needed to make
statements amounting to interference in Lebanese affairs, the kind of positions
that have fueled the tensions still weighing on Lebanese-Iranian relations.
Those positions have been firmly rejected by a majority of Lebanese who support
the “framework agreement” and back Aoun’s diplomatic approach after Hezbollah
pursued the military option, leaving the country with incalculable human and
material costs.
Hezbollah Says Explosives Shipment Seized by Authorities Belongs to Group
Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
A Hezbollah MP acknowledged Thursday that a 500-kilogram shipment of explosives
seized last week by Lebanese authorities belonged to the group, a rare admission
by the Iran-backed militants. "The vehicle and its cargo belong to the
resistance" against Israel, lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said. He said Hezbollah
also called for the immediate release of those arrested over the seizure. A
Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters that the
explosives seized in the car last week were intended to be used in explosive
drones targeting Israeli troops. Fadlallah said Hezbollah had immediately
contacted security agencies to clarify that it owned the vehicle and the cargo,
and to demand the materials be returned and those detained be released.
Fadlallah's acknowledgment reflects Hezbollah's efforts to continue transporting
weapons across Lebanon despite the government's vow to bring all arms in the
country under state control. On March 2, the government specifically banned
Hezbollah's military activities hours after the movement launched rockets at
Israel in solidarity with Tehran, pulling Lebanon into the regional war that
erupted following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The government decisions were
an attempt to reverse the relative freedom Hezbollah had enjoyed for years in
transporting military equipment across Lebanon. The group's main arms supply
route through Syria was severed when its ally, then-president Bashar al-Assad,
was ousted in late 2024. The new Syrian authorities have regularly announced
seizures of weapons along their border with Lebanon that they say are intended
for Hezbollah. Throughout 2025, Lebanese troops seized and destroyed Hezbollah
weapons depots in southern Lebanon in line with the government's plan to exert
state control over all weapons, but that roadmap was put on pause when the new
war erupted. Under a deal reached through US-brokered talks between Lebanon and
Israel this year, Beirut has vowed to disarm Hezbollah, which would in turn lead
to Israeli troops gradually withdrawing from Lebanon. But Hezbollah has refused
to disarm as long as Israeli forces remain on Lebanese land and Israel has
continued carrying out strikes across southern Lebanon.
Israeli Threat to Expand Lebanon’s Occupation, Displace More Than a Million
Lebanese
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15/2026
Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned Hezbollah against attacking Israel,
saying the Israeli army was capable of occupying more Lebanese territories and
displacing more than a million Shiites. "Hezbollah will suffer a severe blow and
lose additional territories in southern Lebanon within the Nabatieh and Litani
regions, which will become part of Israel's permanent security zone. The IDF
(Israel Defense Forces) is prepared to carry out the maneuver," Katz said on
Wednesday. Speaking from the self-declared security zone Israeli forces are
occupying in southern Lebanon, Katz said that a million Shiites would be
displaced and that Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut would not be spared. Israel
launched airstrikes and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon this year in
parallel with the war in Iran, after Hezbollah fired into Israel in revenge for
Israeli-American attacks against Tehran. Hundreds of thousands of people from
Lebanon's Shiite community were uprooted by the fighting.
Aoun Asks Rubio to Press Israel to Halt Aggression; Army
and Security Forces Fully Performing Their Duties
Al-Markaziya / October 15, 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun received a phone call this evening
from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which they reviewed the general
situation in Lebanon and the region in light of recent developments. Discussions
also addressed the situation in the south, given the ongoing Israeli aggression
against southern villages and towns. President Aoun asked Secretary Rubio to
pressure Israel to halt these attacks, adhere to the terms of the framework
agreement, cease bulldozing operations, and allow farmers access to their fields
without interference. During the call, President Aoun assured Secretary Rubio
that the army and security forces are fully carrying out their duties regarding
the enforcement of decisions to ban armed displays, confiscate weapons and
ammunition, and combat smuggling; the measures recorded in recent days fall
within this context. He noted that judicial authorities are following up on all
referred cases, that there will be no leniency toward offenders, and that laws
will be applied without favoritism.
MP Paula Yacoubian Objects to US Ambassador Michel
Issa’s Request to Repeal Law Criminalizing Contact with Israelis
Beirut Times/October 15, 2026
Beirut Times has learned that MP Paula Yacoubian objected to a request by the US
Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, to repeal the law criminalizing contact with
Israelis. This objection was raised during a meeting hosted by the Ambassador
this morning at the US Embassy, attended by more than 20 Members of
Parliament. According to reports, Issa deemed the formal complaint filed against
Lebanon’s Ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, an "insult" to the US
side, particularly given the efforts negotiators are making to halt the military
escalation in Lebanon. Beirut Times* further learned that the Ambassador
emphasized the unacceptability of the current situation and hinted at the
possibility of Americans leaving Lebanon should this stance persist, warning
that Israel might resume its bombardment of Lebanon without any US intervention
to stop it.
Presidential Statement Following the Call Between Rubio and
Aoun
Ax Site/October 15/2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun received a phone call this evening
from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which they reviewed the general
situation in Lebanon and the region in light of recent developments. Discussions
also addressed the situation in the south, given the ongoing Israeli aggression
against southern villages and towns. President Aoun asked Minister Rubio to
pressure Israel to halt these acts of aggression, adhere to the terms of the
framework agreement, cease bulldozing operations, and ensure farmers can access
their fields without being harassed. During the call, President Aoun assured
Minister Rubio that the army and security forces are fully carrying out their
duties regarding the enforcement of decisions to ban armed displays, confiscate
weapons and ammunition, and combat smuggling; the measures recorded in recent
days fall within this context. He noted that judicial authorities are processing
all referred cases, that there will be no leniency toward offenders, and that
the law will be applied without favoritism.
Lebanese-Israeli Military Meetings in Tampa, Excluding
Political Negotiations
Axios/October 15/2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
A US source indicated to Al-Hadath that Lebanese-Israeli military meetings would
be held in Tampa between October 20 and 22. The source stated that the Tampa
meetings would be limited to military and security arrangements, excluding
political negotiations.
Central Bank of Lebanon Revokes License of Iran’s Bank
Saderat / Bloomberg reported that the Central Bank of Lebanon has revoked the
license of the Iranian "Bank Saderat."
Al-Markaziya/October 15/ 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
News regarding Bank Saderat Iran resurfaced following reports that US Treasury
Secretary Scott Bessent raised the issue of the bank during a recent meeting
with a Lebanese delegation in the United States. According to available
information, the Lebanese side was asked to "assist with the matter," a request
interpreted as a signal that Washington seeks decisive action against the bank.
For years, Bank Saderat Iran has been subject to US restrictions and sanctions
that have severely limited its operations outside Iran; its status in Lebanon is
no different from that of its branches elsewhere in the world. Although it
remains on the Central Bank of Lebanon’s list of banks, banking sources confirm
that, in practical terms, it operates outside the Lebanese banking system,
maintaining no financial operations or relationships with the country's banking
and financial sectors. For years, it has effectively been characterized merely
as a limited-activity "money changer." According to the source, Bank Saderat
Iran’s operations in Lebanon are even less extensive than those of the Al-Qard
Al-Hassan institution, despite the differing legal statuses of the two entities.
The source emphasized that the bank remains under close scrutiny by the Banking
Control Commission. This oversight persists because the bank was never removed
from the official list of banks—despite having been isolated and detached from
the system for years—and it remained included on the Central Bank of Lebanon’s
list (updated in January 2026) as bank number 67. The bank—which has only five
branches in Lebanon (Beirut/Verdun, Ghobeiry, Burj al-Barajneh, Baalbek, and
Sidon)—is considered a small institution with a workforce of no more than 70
employees. Its operations and services are also very limited; it does not offer
a full range of banking services due to its isolation from both the local and
global banking systems.
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah Admits: The Explosives Belong
to Us!
Al-Markaziya/October 15/2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
Al-Markaziya – MP Hassan Fadlallah, a member of the "Loyalty to the Resistance"
bloc, stated from Parliament that the legitimacy of the Resistance is not
derived from an authority that has abandoned its sovereignty and its duty to
protect its people, and which seeks to strip the rightful owners of the land of
this very right. Regarding the vehicle that was intercepted, he revealed that
from the very moment it was stopped, the Resistance contacted the relevant
authorities, stating that the vehicle belonged to them and that the materials
inside were capabilities intended to confront the occupation; they demanded the
return of both. He noted that the Resistance’s weaponry is directed exclusively
at the enemy—particularly the explosive devices that the enemy fears. In this
context, Fadlallah described the Prime Minister’s rush to frame the incident as
preparation for assassinations as a campaign to sow discord and a transparent
attempt to curry favor with foreign powers. He pointed out that certain factions
and figures within the ruling establishment insist on exploiting the vehicle
incident to achieve ends that serve only the enemy, noting that their actions
align with Israeli and American demands and ultimately undermine the country.
Fadlallah emphasized that this campaign would not deter the Resistance from
working to defend and liberate our land, as the Resistance embodies all these
people—a steadfast and self-sacrificing populace. He stated: "We warn the
authorities of the need to reverse these policies, for the Resistance will not
tolerate any targeting carried out on behalf of a party acting upon American
dictates."
American Task Force for Lebanon: Washington Favors a New
Verification Mechanism
Al-Markaziya/October 15/2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
In statements to Al-Hadath channel, the American Task Force for Lebanon affirmed
that Israel has not fulfilled its obligations regarding the withdrawal from
southern Lebanon. The Task Force indicated that Washington prefers establishing
a new verification mechanism rather than relying on UNIFIL, while expressing
hope for a temporary extension of UNIFIL’s mandate until the new mechanism is
formed; it stressed that a security vacuum following the end of the mission is
not an option. The Task Force added that the United States is committed to
facilitating the framework agreement—particularly regarding the verification
mechanism—noting that Europe could play a significant role in the verification
process and emphasizing the need for a clear monitoring mechanism within the
agreement.
Explosives Shipment Prompts Call Between Aoun and Rubio;
Hezbollah Claims Ownership
Fadlallah Warns Authorities Against Escalating Measures Targeting Its Arsenal
Lebanese Forces Ministers Withdraw from Cabinet; Complaint Against Moawad
Shelved
Central News Agency/October 15/2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
Amidst an arsenal that defies the state with disregard for its decisions, a
government stumbling over its agenda—marked by ministers walking out of
sessions—and an Iranian diplomat touring allied officials to foster unwanted
coordination (much like his country's ambassador), all while the political
leadership squanders opportunities, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to
call General Joseph Aoun at 7:00 PM today. The call will highlight the
significance Washington attaches to the explosives shipment seized at Dahr Al-Baidar—a
shipment Hezbollah openly admitted today belongs to it, while simultaneously
warning the authorities against escalating measures against its weaponry.
Hezbollah Defies and Warns: While attention focuses on the investigation results
regarding Hezbollah’s explosives shipment—a topic central to the upcoming call
between the US Secretary of State and General Aoun—Hezbollah broke its silence
to defy the state, declaring the shipment belonged to the "Resistance." MP
Hassan Fadlallah, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, asserted from
Parliament that the legitimacy of the Resistance is not derived from an
authority that has abandoned sovereignty and its duty to protect its people, yet
seeks to strip the rightful owners of the land of this very right. Regarding the
intercepted vehicle, he revealed that from the very moment it was stopped, the
Resistance contacted the relevant authorities, stating that the vehicle and its
contents—materials intended for confronting the occupation—belonged to them, and
demanded their return. He noted that the Resistance’s weaponry is directed
exclusively at the enemy—particularly the explosive devices the enemy fears. In
this context, Fadlallah described the Prime Minister’s rush to frame the
incident as a prelude to assassinations as a campaign aimed at sowing discord
and a transparent attempt to curry favor with foreign powers. He pointed out
that certain factions and figures within the ruling establishment insist on
exploiting the vehicle incident to serve agendas that benefit only the enemy,
noting that their actions align with Israeli and American demands and threaten
to destabilize the country. Fadlallah emphasized that this campaign would not
deter the Resistance from defending and liberating the land, as the Resistance
embodies the people themselves—a steadfast and self-sacrificing populace. He
warned the authorities to abandon these policies, stating that the Resistance
would not tolerate any targeting orchestrated by parties acting on American
dictates.
Lebanese Forces Walkout: Amidst this atmosphere, the Cabinet held a session at
the Grand Serail during which ministers from the Lebanese Forces walked out.
Their withdrawal was prompted by the failure to address the demands of Energy
Minister Joe Sader regarding the electricity sector—specifically: the regular
and sustainable settlement of state dues; the implementation of a variable
tariff system; and the government’s assumption of the financial consequences of
its own decisions, such as exempting the South from fees and covering the costs
of electricity and water maintenance in the region. Minister of Industry Joe
Issa El-Khoury stated: "We withdrew from the session because we demanded that
the electricity file be handled with greater seriousness; however, no decision
regarding it has been taken, nor has the Minister of Energy resigned so far."
No Referral: Immediately following the session, the Minister of Information
announced its decisions, noting the Council's approval to establish power plants
powered by alternative energy and the postponement of discussions on certain
agenda items until next Thursday's session. He stated, "The electricity file is
fundamental and serious, and is currently being actively pursued; Prime Minister
Nawaf Salam met yesterday with Minister of Energy Joe Sader to discuss
increasing power supply hours and securing the necessary resources." He added,
"There is no government decision yet to refer the case of the explosives-laden
truck to the Judicial Council. The Minister of Justice proposed a draft decree
for such a referral, but no official government stance has been issued because
the item has not yet been placed on the agenda; the draft decree has not reached
the Cabinet table, and once it does, appropriate action will be taken." Prior to
the session, Justice Minister Adel Nassar had commented on the explosives
shipment, stating that any activity outside the framework of the Lebanese state
is unacceptable. He affirmed that investigations would consider all perspectives
to identify the instigator and the owner of the explosives, emphasizing that
there is no intention to delay the process in any way.
Iran in Lebanon...: Returning to the issue of weaponry—an area where Iran plays
a major role, with Hezbollah’s hardline stance reflecting Tehran’s
own—Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri monitored general developments in Lebanon and
the region, as well as relations between Lebanon and the Islamic Republic of
Iran. He did so while receiving Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Saeed
Khatibzadeh and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Iranian
Chargé d'Affaires in Lebanon, Tawfiq Samadi. Following the meeting, Khatibzadeh
said, "I conveyed best wishes to the Lebanese people and to Lebanon—this great
country with which we share historic, friendly relations across various..."
...levels. Khatibzadeh added: "This type of exchange of visits between the two
countries is the minimum expected within the framework of bilateral
relations—not merely to exchange views, but also to enhance coordination between
us."
...And Qatar, too: Meanwhile, the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, begins a visit to Beirut
today, Thursday. During the visit, he will meet with Lebanese officials,
advising against any new war that might erupt in the region between Iran on one
side and the US and Israel on the other, while also addressing the economic
challenges facing Lebanon.
Dismissal of Complaint: In the meantime—while President [Michel] Aoun stated
that "regional and international developments and the Israeli elections may have
slowed the pace of negotiations, but this does not mean they have stopped; our
goal is Lebanon's interest"—the Government Commissioner to the Military Court,
Judge Claude Ghanem, decided to dismiss the formal complaint filed by lawyer
Hassan Bazzi against Lebanon’s Ambassador to Washington, Nada Mouawad. The
complaint alleged a violation of the law boycotting Israel; however, the
dismissal was due to a lack of evidence or proof demonstrating that she had
committed acts falling under the provisions of that law.
A Squandered Opportunity: In a related development, MP Ashraf Rifi wrote on the
"X" platform: "Targeting the Lebanese Ambassador to Washington, Ms. Nada Hamada
Mouawad, with a complaint lacking legal basis—simply for carrying out her
diplomatic duties—is a blatant attempt to undermine the role of the Lebanese
state and obstruct the negotiation process determined by its legitimate
authorities." "The State alone makes the decisions; diplomacy is not a crime,
and the judiciary must not be turned into a tool for political score-settling.
Truly, shame has vanished." Meanwhile, MP George Okais of the "Strong Republic"
bloc wrote on X: "The State could have regained some of its prestige within a
week: by referring the incident involving the transport of explosives within
Lebanese territory to the Judicial Council—given the clear threat to national
security—and by immediately dismissing the complaint filed against Lebanon’s
Ambassador to Washington, while directly prosecuting the complainants for their
flagrant defamation of the state officials whom Nada Hamadeh represents. Once
again, an opportunity has been squandered, even though it required neither
superhuman strength nor monumental plans and efforts."
Al-Saddi at Ain el-Tineh: Separately, Speaker Berri received—at the Second
Presidency headquarters in Ain el-Tineh—the head of the Progressive Socialist
Party and the Democratic Gathering bloc, MP Taymour Jumblatt, accompanied by
several bloc members. The meeting addressed general developments in Lebanon, as
well as political and field updates in light of Israel's ongoing aggression
against the country, alongside national and legislative matters. The Speaker
also met with the Minister of Energy and Water, Jo Aoun (Al-Saddi), to review
current developments and the general situation—specifically the state of the
electricity sector and the Ministry’s work programs in this area.
Productive Discussions: On the economic front, Athanasios Arvanitis, Deputy
Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), announced that IMF officials held "good" discussions with
Lebanese authorities this week. These discussions are set to continue in the
coming weeks, with an IMF team planning to visit Lebanon in November. He
explained that the talks focused on the banking sector and ensuring the
restoration of public confidence in the financial system. He also noted that
placing public debt on a sustainable path was among the key issues discussed.
Renewed Warnings for Lebanon: Beware of Hezbollah’s
Intervention... But the Decision Rests with the Revolutionary Guard!
Lara Yazbek/ Al-Markaziya/October 15, 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
Al-Markaziya – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah that
joining Iran in an attack on Israel would expose the group to a severe blow and
result in the loss of further territory in the south, particularly in the
Nabatieh and Litani regions. During a visit to Israeli troops stationed in areas
occupied by the Israeli army in Lebanon and Syria, he emphasized that his forces
would not withdraw from these territories. Katz went further, threatening to
evacuate the population northward—up to the line of the Awali and Zahrani
rivers—in preparation for launching extensive strikes on infrastructure and
eliminating the threat posed by drones to towns in northern Israel. He also
raised the prospect of evacuating Beirut’s Southern Suburb and targeting its
infrastructure. While Israeli threats against Hezbollah have persisted for
months, they have now taken on a different dimension; they coincide with growing
regional and global speculation regarding a potential renewed war between Iran
on one side, and the United States and Israel on the other—a conflict the
Israelis do not rule out Iran might initiate this time to catch its enemies off
guard. Against this backdrop, informed political sources told Al-Markaziya that
Katz’s statements are serious and must be treated as such—both by Hezbollah and
by the Lebanese state. This time, should the Party reopen the southern front,
the current American constraints on Israel would be lifted; US President Donald
Trump would once again grant Israel the green light to resume strikes, even
targeting the heart of Beirut and its Southern Suburbs. According to sources,
this warning has been conveyed through various diplomatic channels—most recently
via Qatar—to Lebanon’s leadership, who were informed of the necessity to
restrain Hezbollah and prevent any ill-advised moves should war with Iran
reignite.
However, given that the Party takes orders solely from its patron in Tehran,
sources believe it is crucial to learn what message Saeed Khatibzadeh—an
assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister—will deliver to the Southern Suburbs
following his arrival in Beirut on Wednesday. Notably, Iranian Foreign Minister
Abbas Araghchi spoke with President General Joseph Aoun during Khatibzadeh’s
visit, emphasizing his country’s commitment to dialogue and negotiation and
stating that it does not desire a return to war. Yet, the Iranians are known for
*taqiyya*—saying one thing while intending the opposite—and the final word in
the Islamic Republic rests with the Revolutionary Guard, not the diplomatic
wing. Once the Guard makes a decision, Hezbollah executes it immediately,
without a second thought, the sources conclude.
Tehran Evades Beirut While Washington Confronts It on the
Issue of Arms
Nidaa Al-Watan/October 15, 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
Political developments surrounding Lebanon are accelerating amidst a frantic
race between de-escalation efforts and the risk of a military explosion. Israel
is raising the stakes of its threats to expand the war southward, while
Washington intensifies pressure on the Lebanese state. Meanwhile, Iran offers
Beirut sweet diplomatic words while keeping the "Hezbollah" card poised like a
dagger in the backs of the Lebanese people. Against this backdrop—and coinciding
with Tehran’s announcement of the arrival of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister
Kazem Gharibabadi at Rafik Hariri International Airport—*Nidaa Al-Watan* learned
that the call between President Joseph Aoun and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi was calm and diplomatic in tone. After reviewing the regional
situation, Araghchi explained to Aoun that his country remains committed to
dialogue and negotiation and does not wish for a return to war, affirming the
continuation of talks and adherence to the US-Iran understanding. He also
outlined the obstacles facing this path and the potential consequences of a
breakdown in negotiations, stressing that Iran supports Lebanon's stability and
desires its recovery from its ordeal, just like other nations in the region. For
his part, Aoun emphasized that wars have yielded nothing but ruin and
destruction, necessitating the adoption of the negotiating path that Lebanon
supports. In response to Iranian evasiveness, Israeli Defense Minister Israel
Katz warned Hezbollah that joining Iran in an attack on Israel would expose the
group to a severe blow and result in the loss of further territory in the
south—specifically in the Nabatieh and Litani regions. During a visit to Israeli
troops stationed in areas occupied by the Israeli army in Lebanon and Syria, he
emphasized that his forces would not withdraw from these locations. Katz went
further, threatening to force the evacuation of the population northward—up to
the line of the Awali and Zahrani rivers—to pave the way for massive strikes on
infrastructure and to eliminate the drone threat facing northern Israeli towns.
He also raised the prospect of evacuating Beirut’s southern suburbs and
targeting their infrastructure. Meanwhile, Washington is urging Lebanese
authorities to take decisive action regarding sovereignty; US sources told *Nidaa
Al-Watan* that the era of ambiguity is over and American demands are now clear.
These demands include formulating a concrete disarmament plan, clearing
sensitive areas of weaponry, arresting members of the Iranian Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC), and reforming the judiciary to ensure that violators linked
to "the Party" are held accountable rather than shielded. Amidst this pressure,
Lebanon is fighting a "last-ditch" battle to prevent the loss of the
international protective umbrella over its south, as a critical decision
regarding the future of UNIFIL approaches. In this context, the President of the
Republic—while receiving UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations
Jean-Pierre Lacroix—affirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the continued presence of
international forces, in recognition of the role they have played since the
start of their mission and the sacrifices made by their personnel. He warned
that their withdrawal—amidst ongoing Israeli raids, most of which occur within
their operational zone—would create a security vacuum with negative
repercussions for stability in the South, in addition to resulting in a lack of
international oversight regarding developments on the ground. For his part,
Lacroix noted that his visit—which also included stops at Ain el-Tineh, the
Grand Serail, and Yarzeh—comes at a critical juncture, given the complexities of
the situation on the ground, the continuation of military activities, and the
impact on the local population. He explained that the Security Council is set to
begin discussing the future of the UN presence, emphasizing the necessity of
hearing and considering the Lebanese position, as the matter directly concerns
Lebanon’s security and sovereignty. He confirmed that the United Nations is
aware of the request to extend the UNIFIL mandate for a temporary period,
highlighting the importance of reaching a formula that contributes to enhancing
stability, restoring full Lebanese sovereignty, and supporting security in the
region.
Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Meets Berri: A Visit to Strengthen
Coordination
Al-Markaziya/October 15, 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
Al-Markaziya – Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reviewed the general situation in
Lebanon and the region, as well as relations between Lebanon and the Islamic
Republic of Iran, during a meeting at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain
el-Tineh. He received Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh and
his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Chargé d'Affaires of the
Iranian Embassy in Lebanon, Tawfiq Samadi. Following the meeting, Khatibzadeh
said: "I conveyed my best wishes to the Lebanese people and to Lebanon—this
great country with which we share historic, friendly relations across various
levels." He added: "This type of exchange of visits between the two countries is
the least that can be expected within the framework of bilateral relations—not
only to exchange views but also to further strengthen coordination between us."
5 million euros from Germany to Lebanon!
Al Markazia/October 15, 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) announced in a statement, “The
German government has provided an additional contribution of 5 million euros to
the programme, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to support the
Lebanese army and enhance its capabilities to contribute to stabilization and
recovery efforts in Lebanon, which brings the total German support provided to
the army through this program to 10 million euros. The new funding will be
allocated to improving the living conditions of members of the Lebanese army and
their families, by providing support in the areas of food, health care,
education and housing, in addition to providing the army with the necessary
equipment to remove Rubble and explosive ordnance, to support recovery efforts
in areas affected by the conflict.” He said: “This non-military support will
continue until 2028, to help members meet their basic needs, and to strengthen
the Lebanese Army’s capabilities to facilitate safe access to the affected areas
and support recovery efforts there.” He added: “This contribution comes at a
time when the Lebanese Army’s responsibilities in extending state authority are
increasing, in line with UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701 (2006), in
light of the continuing financial pressures that the military institution has
faced since 2019. The escalation of hostilities in March 2026 led to the
displacement of more than 50,000 Lebanese Army soldiers and their family
members, amid a state of uncertainty about the possibility of their return. This
coincides with a period of Lebanon is witnessing a transitional period,
following the adoption of Security Council Resolution No. 2790 (2025) ending the
mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He continued:
“In this context, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and
Director of the Regional Office for Arab States at the United Nations
Development Programme, Abdullah Dardari, said: “Continued German support sends a
strong message of solidarity with Lebanon in a pivotal transitional phase. The
Lebanese Army, which enjoys the confidence of various parties across the
country’s complex political spectrum, plays a pivotal role in protecting
Lebanon’s recovery path.” He said: “Germany has supported the project
“Strengthening the role of the Lebanese Army and expanding the scope of its
participation by supporting the military’s living system” since its launch in
December 2024, as its first contribution of 5 million euros contributed to
ensuring the availability of basic foodstuffs at subsidized prices in the
“Soldier’s Homes” of the Lebanese Army, which number 144 cooperatives, to In
addition to introducing an electronic system for points of sale in various of
these cooperatives.” The project “provides an integrated framework for providing
non-military support to the Lebanese army, with the aim of improving the living
conditions of about 81,500 soldiers and their families.” It also supports
civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) activities implemented by the Lebanese Army,
which enhances communication with local communities and trust in state
institutions.” The UNDP is implementing the project “under a memorandum of
understanding with the Lebanese Ministry of National Defense and the Office of
the United Nations Special Coordinator in Lebanon, and with contributions from
Germany, the European Union, Spain, France, Norway, Denmark and Japan.” The
program links support for security and stability with broader recovery efforts
in Lebanon.” The new German contribution “is provided through the UNDP financing
mechanism for governance, peacebuilding, crises and resilience.” Through the
same funding mechanism, Germany has separately provided more than €6 million to
support the Stabilization Response Mechanism, which supports the Internal
Security Forces in southern Lebanon and supports the restoration of essential
public services, including civil registry and traffic management services.
About the project
The project “Enhancing the role of the Lebanese Army and expanding the scope of
its participation by supporting the personnel’s living system” extends from
December 2024 until February 2028. It aims to improve the living conditions and
food security of the soldiers in the Lebanese Army and their families, enhance
their access to social services, and support civil-military cooperation, in a
way that contributes to achieving stability, recovery, and renewing confidence
in state institutions.
Hezbollah Aid to Displaced Families Raises Questions Over Funding Sources
Beirut: Caroline Akoum/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15/2026
Hezbollah’s announcement of financial assistance for displaced Lebanese families
and those affected by the fighting with Israel has raised questions about where
the money comes from and how it is transferred and distributed, amid US
sanctions on Iran and tighter Lebanese oversight of funding channels. The
announcement also comes as Lebanese authorities move to place all weapons under
the control of legitimate state forces. Meanwhile, President Joseph Aoun
received a telephone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to
discuss regional developments. According to the Lebanese presidency, the two
agreed on the need to support diplomatic solutions as the best way to end
conflicts in the region.
Hezbollah’s funding sources
Hezbollah has traditionally relied on direct Iranian support, donations from
sympathizers abroad and commercial activities, as well as illicit sources that
US authorities accuse the group of exploiting. Lebanese authorities, meanwhile,
are seeking to strengthen financial regulations and oversight, particularly
through proposed amendments to Law No. 44 on combating money laundering and
terrorist financing.The changes aim to identify the beneficial owners of
companies and commercial ventures, trace the origins and destinations of funds,
and tighten supervision of currency exchange dealers and money transfer
companies.
US questions reported Iranian funding
A US State Department spokesperson has questioned, for a second time, reports of
money reaching Hezbollah from Iran. “The money supposedly arriving from Iran
simply does not exist,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying. The official
accused Hezbollah of relying on criminal activities, including drug trafficking
and partnerships with Latin American drug cartels, to compensate for funds it
was not receiving from Tehran. No detailed public evidence was provided to
substantiate the allegations. The spokesperson described Hezbollah’s aid
announcement as an attempt to salvage its reputation rather than help those it
had drawn into war. The official also accused the group of dragging Lebanon into
war in a “suicidal” manner, arguing that even if Hezbollah had the money, it
would use it to purchase weapons to threaten Israel and intimidate its
opponents. Hezbollah’s weapons, the spokesperson added, had brought Lebanon
nothing but misery and destruction. The official said Washington was working
with Gulf and European partners on a plan to make billions of dollars available
for Lebanon’s reconstruction, without specifying a final amount or
implementation timetable. Disarming Hezbollah was an essential part of efforts
to restore stability and prevent renewed conflict, he stressed.
On Tuesday, Hezbollah announced a financial assistance program for displaced
families whose homes had been destroyed or damaged and who had no alternative
accommodation. The program covers rent and furniture expenses of up to $14,000,
payable over one year. The announcement came days after Reuters reported that
Hezbollah had received $200 million from Iran to assist displaced Lebanese
families, a claim also questioned by Washington.
Questions over alternative funding channels
Sami Nader, director of the Middle East Institute for Strategic Affairs, told
Asharq Al-Awsat that US skepticism suggested Washington was closely monitoring
Hezbollah’s potential funding sources. However, he did not rule out the
possibility that Iran and Hezbollah had recently developed new methods of
transferring money, including cryptocurrencies or gold. Nader said US trade
monitoring and tighter financial restrictions posed challenges to such channels,
potentially explaining the latest round of sanctions. He stressed the need for
Lebanon to enforce its financial laws across all sectors. “The Lebanese state
must enforce the laws as it did with Al-Qard Al-Hassan, and oversight must cover
all areas,” he said. Nader called for scrutiny of cryptocurrency exchange
offices to determine whether they complied with Lebanese regulations, adding
that new legislation might be needed to address emerging financial mechanisms.
Concerns over Lebanon’s financial standing
Lebanese Forces lawmaker Razi al-Hajj accused Hezbollah of trying to project the
same strength it possessed before the two wars, while disregarding the deaths,
injuries and economic collapse that followed. He also accused the group of
attempting to shift responsibility onto the government, which he said had
already shouldered more than it could manage. While affirming that those
affected by the fighting were entitled to assistance, al-Hajj said the central
issue was enforcing laws against money laundering and terrorist financing. He
warned that failures in this area could damage Lebanon’s financial standing and
international relations. The deputy argued that Hezbollah’s funding, which he
characterized as generally originating from illicit sources, posed a threat to
state stability and ties with the international community. He also warned that
Lebanon could move from the Financial Action Task Force’s gray list to its
blacklist.
Transparency must apply to everyone
Lawmaker Fouad Makhzoumi said demands for transparency and verification of
funding sources, transfer methods and distribution mechanisms should apply to
everyone without exception. Writing on X, he warned of the risks of money
laundering and terrorist financing, particularly given Lebanon’s inclusion on
the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Makhzoumi also urged
the government to assume responsibility for providing shelter and assistance to
displaced families, stressing that no Lebanese citizen should be left to face
hardship alone.
What Do Lebanon's Shiites Think of Hezbollah
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
A September 2026 survey by Lebanon Statistics of 800 Lebanese Shiite citizens
across the country points to a community whose views on Hezbollah are shifting.
42.1% express disappointment, anger or concern over how its leadership is
handling things, and only 5.9% want the current leadership to grow stronger.
Most would prefer a new experienced political leadership (51.5%) or a new
generation (22%). Two-thirds (67.4%) believe the Hezbollah achieved none or only
part of its goals in the war, at an extremely high cost. On the key
issues: 66.4% believe its weapons should be handed over to the state in some
form, against 29.6% who want them kept as they are. 71.1% say decisions of war
and peace must rest solely with the Lebanese state. Trust in the Lebanese Army
stands at 78.5%, and 51.1% see it as the main guarantor of long-term security,
compared with 16.5% for Hezbollah. A majority (63.3%) also support some form of
agreement with Israel, while only 8.9% back an Iran-sponsored deal.
Aoun Denies Allegations Against Lebanese Ambassador to Washington, Says
Negotiations With Israel Have Not Stopped
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday dismissed allegations circulating in
the media against Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, questioning the basis of
reports concerning an incident he said had never occurred. “On what basis did
the media begin circulating allegations against Lebanon’s ambassador to
Washington, undermining her personal dignity and the state’s foreign policy over
an incident that never occurred?” Aoun asked. Addressing the ongoing
negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, Aoun acknowledged that regional and
international developments, as well as Israeli elections, may have slowed their
progress, but stressed that the diplomatic process remains underway. “This does
not mean that negotiations have stopped,” he said, reaffirming that the
objective remains to serve Lebanon’s national interests. Aoun also emphasized
the importance of accountability in public office, stating that he takes
responsibility for his own decisions. “I am responsible for my actions. Anyone
unable to bear the responsibilities of their position should not hold it,” he
said.
Complaint Against Lebanon’s Ambassador to U.S. Closed by Military Court
Prosecutor
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
Lebanon’s Government Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Claude Ghanem,
has closed a complaint filed by a pro-Hezbollah lawyer against Lebanon’s
Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad. The complaint was filed
earlier this week following reports that Moawad had contacted Israeli Ambassador
to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter to inquire about the condition of his son, who was
wounded in an attack last month. The reported contact between the Lebanese and
Israeli ambassadors prompted the legal complaint, which Ghanem has now closed
Rubio to Press Aoun on Hezbollah Arms, C4 Shipment in High-Level Call
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to press Lebanese President
Joseph Aoun to take concrete action against the movement of weapons and
explosives outside state control during a high-level phone call scheduled for
Thursday, informed sources told This Is Beirut. The call, scheduled for 12:00
p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 p.m. Beirut time), comes amid heightened U.S. concerns
over Hezbollah and recent developments involving the transportation of weapons
and explosives, particularly following the seizure of a vehicle carrying a
shipment of C4 explosives. According to the sources, Rubio is expected to
emphasize that confiscating the explosives alone is insufficient and that
Lebanese authorities must pursue a comprehensive investigation to identify those
responsible for ordering, financing and directing the operation, rather than
limiting accountability to those who physically transported the shipment.
The U.S. State Department is closely monitoring the developments, with
spokesperson Tommy Pigott reiterating Washington’s attention to the matter.
Beyond the immediate investigation, Rubio is expected to call for tangible
measures to prevent the transportation of weapons and explosives outside the
authority of the Lebanese state. The secretary of state will also stress the
importance of translating Lebanon’s commitments into concrete action,
particularly measures aimed at strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces and
legitimate state institutions. According to the sources, Washington considers
progress on these commitments an important factor in determining continued U.S.
and international support for Lebanon.
Lebanese-Israeli Negotiations Remain a Priority
The sources further indicated that Rubio is expected to push for the
continuation of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, alongside
efforts to consolidate Lebanese state authority. Washington is seeking a clear
timetable for implementing commitments under the U.S.-brokered Framework
Agreement, as well as verification mechanisms to ensure that both sides fulfill
their respective obligations. The diplomatic track is intended to advance in
parallel with measures strengthening the Lebanese state’s authority over
security decisions and armed activity. Diplomatic Developments Surrounding
Lebanon’s Ambassador in Washington. The anticipated call also comes amid an
ongoing complaint involving Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh
Moawad, and new developments concerning a report submitted to the Lebanese
judiciary. A pro-Hezbollah lawyer filed a complaint against Moawad following
reports that she had contacted Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter to
inquire about the condition of his son, who was wounded in an attack last month.
According to the informed sources, U.S. officials have emphasized their
commitment to ensuring the ambassador’s safety and have responded swiftly to
recent judicial decisions related to the matter.
Hezbollah MP Defends Seized Explosives, Says Materials Belong to the
“Resistance”
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah defended the materials seized from a
Hezbollah-linked vehicle at the Dahr al-Baydar checkpoint, saying they belonged
to the “resistance” and served a purpose as long as Israeli occupation
continued. Fadlallah said Hezbollah had immediately contacted the relevant
authorities after the vehicle was stopped to inform them that it belonged to the
group. He added that efforts had been made to resolve the issue of the seized
vehicle and its cargo away from political and media disputes, warning that
Israel would exploit the controversy. Fadlallah accused certain political
parties and officials of exploiting the incident to advance objectives that
serve Israeli and American interests, warning that such actions contribute to
the destruction of Lebanon. He also criticized Prime Minister Nawaf Salam over
what he characterized as an attempt to portray the incident as preparations for
assassinations, arguing that the allegations were part of a divisive campaign
that deepened tensions among Lebanese citizens and sought to gain favor abroad.
Fadlallah warned Lebanese authorities against pursuing policies targeting
Hezbollah, saying the group would not tolerate measures implemented in
accordance with American dictates. He further cautioned officials against
exploiting Hezbollah’s commitment to "maintaining civil peace." Addressing the
possibility of legal action, Fadlallah said that if authorities intended to
prosecute those possessing such capabilities, they would be targeting the
resistance’s leadership, supporters, families of those killed, and fighters
stationed along the front lines.
Lebanon’s Central Bank Revokes License of Iran’s Bank Saderat
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
Lebanon’s Central Bank has revoked the banking license of Iran’s Bank Saderat,
Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The move marks a significant development
concerning the Iranian bank’s operations in Lebanon, amid heightened regional
tensions and growing scrutiny of Iranian financial activities.
Rubio to Aoun: Returning Explosives Shipment to
Hezbollah "Must Not Be an Option"
US Secretary of State Urges Lebanese President to Hold Accountable Those Who
Ordered, Funded, and Managed the Shipment
Washington: Agencies/October 15, 2026 (AI
translation from Arabic)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun not to
return the shipment of explosives—seized by authorities—to Hezbollah, and called
for direct communication between the Lebanese and Israeli armies, a US official
said on Thursday. Last week, Lebanese security forces detained two men suspected
of belonging to Hezbollah while they were transporting 500 kilograms of
explosive materials. On Thursday, a Hezbollah MP confirmed that the shipment
belonged to the group and was intended for use against the Israeli army.
Speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, the US official stated that
during a phone call, Rubio urged Aoun "to hold accountable everyone who ordered,
funded, and managed the shipment, emphasizing that returning the explosives to
Hezbollah must not be an option."
The Lebanese presidency announced that during the call, Aoun assured Rubio that
"the army and security forces are carrying out their duties in implementing
decisions regarding the prohibition of armed displays, the confiscation of
weapons and ammunition, and the combating of smuggling." On Thursday, Hezbollah
acknowledged for the first time that the shipment belonged to it. Hassan
Fadlallah, an MP for the group, stated that following the vehicle's seizure, the
party had contacted "security and judicial agencies" to inform them that "the
vehicle and its cargo belong" to Hezbollah. He added that the party demanded
"the immediate release of the detainees and the return of the vehicle and its
contents," describing them as "capabilities" the party employs against Israel.
Meanwhile, Rubio condemned a 1955 Lebanese law that criminalizes direct
relations and communication with Israel, deeming it an "obstacle to peace
efforts," according to the US official discussing the call. Rubio stated—as
reported by the source—that "this law is unworkable" and called for
"establishing direct communication between Lebanese and Israeli
forces—military-to-military—to avoid conflict," noting that this would help
reduce miscalculations and advance the gradual implementation of the tripartite
framework. Under US pressure, Lebanon formulated a plan to disarm Hezbollah;
furthermore, US-brokered negotiations between Israel and Lebanon led to a
framework agreement in late June, stipulating the gradual withdrawal of the
Israeli army from the areas it occupies in southern Lebanon.
In parallel with these developments, Fadlallah stated that "the campaign against
the Resistance comes at a time when the Israeli enemy continues to commit crimes
against humanity across the occupied villages and those adjacent to them,
meeting with nothing but silence and helplessness from the authorities."
He revealed that a vehicle belonging to the Resistance was stopped at the Dahr
al-Baidar checkpoint, and materials were seized inside that he described as
"known for their use in the context of an occupation." He explained that an
attempt had been made to handle the issue of the seized vehicle and its cargo
away from any media or political controversy, in order to avoid giving Israel an
opportunity to exploit such a dispute. In this context, Fadlallah asserted that
"if the authorities are seeking the parties that utilize the capabilities found
in the vehicle—as well as their intended destination—and are threatening to
pursue them, then those parties are well-known: they begin with the Resistance
leadership and its people, extending to the families of martyrs and the
Resistance fighters stationed at the front lines." He emphasized that "the
Resistance's weaponry—particularly explosive devices—is directed solely at the
Israeli enemy," regarding them as effective tools in the confrontation. He
warned the Lebanese authorities against the "consequences of persisting with
these measures," urging them to "act quickly to avert risks and reverse these
actions." He also criticized the "haste shown by the Prime Minister and others
to frame the incident as a prelude to assassinations," describing this as a
"campaign of sedition that deepens divisions among the Lebanese people." In a
move marking an escalation, Fadlallah deemed the authorities' decision of March
2 against the Resistance to be "null and void, with no practical effect on the
ground," describing it as a "stain of shame upon them—one rendered ineffective
by the heroism of the Resistance fighters on the soil of the South." He accused
certain figures within the ruling establishment of attempting to issue decisions
that align with Israeli and American demands, stating that "there are attempts
by some within the authority to issue decisions that harmonize with
Israeli-American demands—demands that lead to the ruin of the country." He
issued a warning to the concerned parties, urging them not to exploit
Hezbollah’s commitment to civil peace to persist in these attempts, thereby
reaffirming the party's rejection of the measures taken against it and its
demand that the authorities reverse them.
Israeli Media: 60 Villages and 23,000 Homes Destroyed in Southern Lebanon
Israel’s Channel 15 revealed data presented to Israeli Defense Minister Israel
Katz during his tour of southern Lebanon yesterday. The information concerned
the extent of the area under Israeli military control and the destruction
inflicted upon Lebanese villages and homes.
According to the channel, the Israeli army controls a security zone spanning
approximately 700 square kilometers in southern Lebanon. It noted the
destruction of more than 60 Lebanese villages within this zone—extending to what
it described as the "Yellow Line"—with the exception of three Christian
villages. It added that approximately 23,000 homes have been destroyed in
villages under Israeli military control, while around 200,000 residents of the
security zone remain displaced, unable to return to their homes to date.
Israeli Threats and Warnings of Renewed Escalation
Meanwhile, Israel has escalated its rhetoric toward Lebanon; Israeli Defense
Minister Israel Katz threatened, stating: "If Hezbollah attacks us, we will
displace a million Shiites, strike Dahiyeh, and eliminate Naim Qassem." These
threats coincide with ongoing tensions on the ground in the south, as Israel
repeatedly hints at the possibility of expanding its military operations against
Hezbollah. In the latest Israeli development, Army Radio claimed that Hezbollah
had launched at least three drones and intelligence-gathering assets toward the
security zone in southern Lebanon over the past two weeks. According to the
radio station, this information emerged following an incident where an
"unidentified flying object" was detected near the Lebanese border. The report
noted that Israeli interception attempts failed in two out of the three
instances, while the Israeli Air Force succeeded in intercepting one of the
aerial assets. It further indicated that the army had announced the firing of
interceptor missiles at "suspicious targets" during all three incidents, without
subsequently confirming that the targeted objects belonged to Hezbollah.
Washington Rejects Extending UNIFIL and Insists on the Tripartite Framework
On the diplomatic front, the United States rejected the presence of any
international force to replace UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, while expressing
readiness to discuss arrangements aimed at disarming Hezbollah, enhancing the
Lebanese Army's capabilities, and strengthening Lebanese sovereignty.
A US State Department official, speaking to Al Jazeera, confirmed that the US
opposes extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
beyond December 31. The State Department attributed this stance to what it
deemed the mission's failure—citing the outbreak of seven conflicts during its
tenure and Hezbollah’s construction of military infrastructure in the immediate
vicinity of UNIFIL positions. The official explained that Washington is
addressing a different situation based on a trilateral framework designed to
chart a path toward lasting security and peaceful relations between Israel and
Lebanon; he expressed the view that the gradual implementation of this framework
would commence upon the conclusion of UNIFIL’s mission. He emphasized that the
framework’s success would lay the groundwork for stable, peaceful relations,
rendering open-ended peacekeeping arrangements unnecessary, and stressed that
any international presence in southern Lebanon must be aligned with the
objectives of the trilateral framework. The State Department also reiterated its
willingness to discuss arrangements for disarming Hezbollah, boosting the
Lebanese Army's capabilities, and reinforcing Lebanese sovereignty. Complaint
Against Lebanese Ambassador to Washington: Judiciary Shelves the Case
In a parallel political and judicial development, news of a formal complaint
filed against Lebanon’s Ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, sparked
a political stir. However, the Government Commissioner to the Military Court,
Judge Claude Ghanem, subsequently decided to shelve the complaint and halt any
legal proceedings against her. The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had
previously confirmed that reports regarding legal measures being taken against
the ambassador were inaccurate. In a statement, the Ministry added that "taking
any judicial measure against public officials requires obtaining express
approval from the relevant minister, in accordance with established legal
procedures." It further emphasized that "the mission entrusted to Ambassador
Mouawad is authorized by the President of the Republic, in agreement with the
Prime Minister, and in compliance with relevant constitutional provisions."
Lawyer Hassan Adel Bazzi had filed the complaint with the Public Prosecution of
Cassation against the ambassador following reports that she had contacted the
Israeli ambassador in Washington to condemn an incident in the West Bank in
which his son was struck by a vehicle.
The Public Prosecutor of Cassation, Judge Ahmed Rami Al-Hajj, referred the
complaint to the Government Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Claude
Ghanem, for review and appropriate legal action, prior to the decision to shelve
the case. The issue took on a political dimension, as the administration of U.S.
President Donald Trump expressed its displeasure—particularly following the
referral of the matter to the military judiciary in Beirut.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson announced that the administration was aware
of the complaint filed against Moawad and criticized the referral of the case to
the Lebanese military judiciary. While the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation had
reported that Moawad spoke with the Israeli ambassador, Lebanese media outlets
reported information denying that such a call took place. The U.S. State
Department also described the person who filed the complaint as a lawyer
supportive of Hezbollah.
Rubio Calls for Holding Hezbollah Accountable; Aoun
Responds: Committed to Confiscating Its Weapons
Al-Modon/October 15/2026 (AI
translation from Arabic)
President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun asked US Secretary of State Marco
Rubio to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on southern villages and towns,
adhere to the terms of the "Framework Agreement," cease bulldozing operations,
and allow farmers access to their fields without harassment. Aoun’s remarks came
during a phone call he received this evening from Rubio, in which they reviewed
the general situation in Lebanon and the region in light of recent
developments—particularly the situation in the south and the ongoing Israeli
attacks. During the call, Aoun affirmed that the army and security forces are
fully carrying out their duties regarding the enforcement of decisions to
prevent armed displays, confiscate weapons and ammunition, and combat smuggling,
noting that measures taken over the past few days fall within this context. The
President pointed out that judicial authorities are processing all cases
referred to them, stressing that there will be no leniency toward offenders and
that the law will be applied without favoritism.
Meanwhile, a US State Department official revealed further details regarding the
call, noting that Rubio discussed recent developments with Aoun, including the
seizure of hundreds of kilograms of explosives that he stated were in the
possession of Hezbollah. According to the US official, Rubio urged President
Aoun to hold accountable all parties that ordered, funded, and directed the
shipment of explosives, stressing the need to completely rule out any
possibility of returning the confiscated explosives to Hezbollah. Rubio also
addressed Lebanon’s 1955 law boycotting Israel, noting that it is frequently
used in politically motivated prosecutions that hinder peace efforts. He
described the law as impractical—a stance reflecting the inclusion of this issue
in US discussions with Lebanon. Furthermore, Rubio called for the establishment
of direct communication channels between the Lebanese Army and Israeli forces to
prevent clashes and facilitate de-escalation; he argued that such a step would
reduce the risk of miscalculation and help advance the phased implementation of
the "tripartite framework." Meanwhile, MP Hassan Fadlallah—a member of the
"Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc—adopted a harsher tone toward the Lebanese
authorities, warning against the consequences of persisting with measures taken
against the Resistance and calling for them to be reversed to avert potential
dangers. He also accused the Prime Minister and certain political factions of
sowing division among the Lebanese people by linking the case of the seized
vehicle to preparations for assassinations. This escalation coincides with
Lebanon’s reception today of the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani—following yesterday’s reception of
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh—and a call placed by Iranian
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to President Joseph Aoun. Both political stances
and diplomatic activity suggest the potential for dangerous developments; Israel
and the United States are seeking to ensure that Hezbollah remains sidelined
from any new involvement in a potential war with Iran—a conflict that could
precede the US and Israeli elections.
US and Israeli positions have conditioned the resumption of negotiations on
specific steps required of Lebanon, namely the disarmament of Hezbollah and the
prevention of any international force other than UNIFIL from operating in
southern Lebanon. According to these positions, the ultimate requirement is
direct military coordination between Lebanon and Israel.
Parliamentary Meeting in Awkar
In a related development, a meeting involving several Members of Parliament was
held at the US Ambassador’s residence in Awkar, amidst ongoing political and
diplomatic contacts regarding the implementation of the "Framework Agreement"
and recent events in Lebanon. The meeting coincides with intensifying debate
over the future of negotiations with Israel and US stances concerning Lebanese
laws that prohibit dealings with that state.
Fadlallah Escalates: The Authority’s Decision is Null and Void; It Has No Legal
Effect
Warning Messages from Rubio... and Iran Stands Firm:
Will Qatar’s Initiative Succeed?
Mounir Al-Rabie/Al-Modon/October 16/2026 (AI
translation from Arabic)
Intertwined issues are crowding the agenda. Alongside efforts to achieve
internal de-escalation, factors pointing toward escalation or a hardening of
stances have emerged. On Wednesday, Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Ali
Khatibzadeh arrived in Lebanon. Notably, no meeting was scheduled for him with
the President of the Republic or the Prime Minister, though he did meet with
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Shortly after his arrival, Iranian Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone with President Joseph Aoun. Araghchi
emphasized diplomatic efforts and the Islamabad Agreement, reaffirming Iran's
insistence on a ceasefire in Lebanon. The Iranian diplomat’s meetings focused on
several points: first, Iran’s rejection of war while simultaneously declaring
full readiness for it; second, addressing the concerns of Lebanon’s Shiite
community and reassuring them of Tehran’s support; and third—according to
available information—Iran’s aim to relaunch dialogue, whether at the official
level or between Hezbollah and the President. However, the press conference held
by Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah regarding a shipment of explosives—and his
demand to reverse the government’s March 2 decision banning the party’s security
and military activities—suggests no signs of dialogue whatsoever.
Rubio’s Messages
The Iranian push was met with a counter-move from the US, led by Secretary of
State Marco Rubio, who held a phone call with President Joseph Aoun. Rubio’s
call served as a clear warning—perhaps part of a mounting series of grievances
that the U.S. had been waiting for the right moment to voice. The call focused
on U.S. monitoring of the investigation into the explosives shipment,
emphasizing the need to pursue the inquiry to the end rather than stopping at
the arrest of the two individuals caught transporting the cargo; instead, the
investigation should expand to include their handlers and superiors. This aligns
with the broader context of U.S. pressure to dismantle Hezbollah or push the
Lebanese state to dissolve the party. Another key point of the call was to
express U.S. displeasure regarding the complaint filed against the Lebanese
ambassador to the U.S. for contacting the Israeli ambassador in Washington.
Rubio’s demand—which U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa conveyed to several MPs—was for
the submission of a bill to Parliament to repeal the law criminalizing dealings
and communication with Israelis.
Bank Saderat Iran
In practice, these U.S. demands are not new; the U.S. believes Lebanon has been
slow to meet its obligations regarding them. This view mirrors their frustration
with the sluggish pace of disarmament, the failure of "pilot zones," and the
army’s perceived failure to fulfill its duties—specifically regarding the
implementation of government decisions, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the
prevention of the group from collecting funds. The U.S. call served as a clear
warning to the state to proceed with the measures agreed upon within the
tripartite framework. Part of this pressure was reflected in the Central Bank of
Lebanon’s announcement revoking the license of Bank Saderat Iran—a move Rubio
had previously requested of Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber during his
earlier visit to Washington alongside Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The European
Mission and the Issue of Arms
The American message conveyed by Rubio compels the Lebanese state to adopt a
different approach to all these issues. The timing of Rubio’s call to Aoun—coinciding
with Lebanon’s request to the UN to renew the mandate of the UNIFIL
forces—cannot be overlooked, particularly given Washington’s categorical
rejection of such a renewal and its view that UNIFIL has failed in its mission.
To date, the United States has not consented to the deployment of a European
force in the South, pending a round of military negotiations to determine which
parties will be responsible for implementing verification
mechanisms—specifically, verifying the army's efforts to remove the Party's
weapons. While European nations seek to take charge of these verification
mechanisms, the proposed text for establishing the European force includes a
provision authorizing the force to accompany the army and oversee its operations
during the disarmament process. Doha and the Umbrella for Lebanon
Amidst the US-Iran tensions—which are clearly reflected in Lebanon and across
the region—the visit of Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al
Thani to Beirut stands out. Qatar plays a pivotal mediation role between
Washington and Tehran to avert a renewed war; it also seeks to shield Lebanon by
helping to establish a regional and international umbrella that protects the
country from war and its repercussions. This visit carries multiple dimensions:
first, an attempt to defuse internal tensions; second, an effort to bridge gaps
between Lebanese factions and prevent the fallout of any external explosion from
impacting Lebanon; and third, providing political, social, and economic
assistance to the Lebanese state. This includes a readiness to undertake
projects and investments—specifically in the electricity sector—that could
stabilize the internal situation and avert a social explosion. Notably, numerous
meetings have taken place between Lebanese and Qatari officials to discuss
Qatari investment in electricity, including the construction of two power plants
and Qatar's contribution to supplying gas to Lebanon for gas-fired power
generation.
Two Contradictory Rhythms
Lebanon moves to the rhythm of the region, a region itself driven by two
contradictory rhythms. The first is the maintenance of negotiation tracks,
despite their stalling and failure to achieve the desired progress. The second
is the persistent, open-ended threat of an explosion—an escalation that could
erupt at any moment, unforeseen and uncalculated. Such an escalation would
engulf the entire region, whether simultaneously or gradually, depending on the
realities on the ground. Lebanon will remain in a state of suspense; the Iranian
visit serves as evidence of Iran’s presence and its determination to maintain a
grip on the file—diplomatically within negotiations and militarily should a
full-scale war erupt. Conversely, Washington—and specifically Secretary of State
Marco Rubio, a staunch hardliner against Iran—rejects any Iranian role in
Lebanon.
Hezbollah Defies
Hezbollah continues to defy both the Americans and the Israelis. Its actions
range from announcing the aid programs and funds it has secured to claiming
responsibility for a shipment of explosives—a move that signals the party’s
intent to keep building its military capabilities and amassing arms, in clear
disregard of Lebanese government decisions or the "framework agreement."
Washington and Tel Aviv are likely to exploit this situation to intensify
pressure on Lebanon or to expand military operations once again.
A Shipment of Explosives Against Fragile Internal Stability
Abdel Wahab Badrakhan/An-Nahar October 15/2026
Why does "Hezbollah"—or the "Party of Iran"—appear to have deliberately sent the
shipment of explosives so that it would be discovered? The details of the
operation reveal a degree of stupidity and naivety. If the shipment’s goal was
to send a "message" to both domestic and foreign audiences, that message must
have been significant enough to justify depriving the "Resistance" of such a
large quantity of explosives—unless the shipment was sent to be easily detected
as a decoy for another, more critical shipment (a common smuggler’s tactic,
though it implies the "Party" no longer enjoys the same "confidence" and
"security" it once did in managing its affairs), or unless it was confident it
could retrieve the shipment after its seizure via the tunnels it has dug deep
within the "deep state."
Meanwhile, the "Party" is certain its "message" has been received, evidenced by
the debate and controversy it sparked in the media and across all
levels—including within the "Ministerial Council," a body now distinguished from
the official "Council of Ministers." What could the title of this "message" be
other than a threat to the domestic front? After all, the State is scoring
points in its political confrontation with the "Party," and the international
community—specifically the US—is relying on the State and seeking to engage with
entities other than the "Party," all while intensifying sanctions on Iran,
complicating negotiations with it, and weakening the Lebanese card it holds.
Having failed in their confrontation with Israel—and having likewise failed to
secure gains through negotiations with it—Iran and its "Party" deem this the
opportune moment to reassert their dominance within Lebanon. They aim to remind
everyone that domestic stability is fragile and easily destabilized by a round
of bombings and assassinations. There is nothing new in this, as a lack of
achievements reinforces the logic of chaos.
Iran treats Lebanon with a punitive approach, much as it does the Gulf
states—particularly Saudi Arabia. Underlying its rhetoric and the speeches of
its proxies is a constant reminder that a reckoning awaits any state that failed
to submit to the Iranian will in a timely manner. Even as Iran risks sinking
under the weight of its current crisis, it remains determined to drag the region
down with it, regardless of whether it ultimately succeeds.
It has long been clear that Iran’s agenda for Lebanon is to transform it into
one of its "arenas"—much like Syria and Gaza in the past, and Iraq and Yemen
today. The goal is for its "Party" to hold ultimate sway; the Party has
succeeded in domesticating the state and the army, enlisting them in a specific
equation: full support for a "resistance" (led by the Revolutionary Guard) in
exchange for defending a corrupt system. This equation is now faltering, as the
"Party" will never be what it once was, while the cause of statehood and reform
is in dire need of protection and fortification to prevent its collapse. There
is a consensus that the current phase is difficult and heralds a decisive
confrontation; yet, Lebanon shows no capacity to handle it. The state adopts the
right decisions but fails to implement them—even when faced with threats of
bombings and assassinations—while the "Party of Iran" views the state’s
paralysis (or its reluctance to utilize its capabilities) as an opportunity to
further weaken it. Meanwhile, Israel acts on the premise that—alongside the
United States—it has dealt crippling blows that will prevent Iran and its
proxies from disrupting its expansionist agenda (at the expense of Lebanon,
Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank), regardless of who becomes its next prime
minister. Iran, for its part, behaves as though it has already defeated America
and has now moved on to expanding its influence by having its "experts" oversee
the escalation of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Israel offers Riyadh
assistance in Yemen (naturally, in exchange for "normalization"—a proposal that
is rejected), while Tehran offers to "mediate" between Riyadh and the Houthis
(based, of course, on a logic of dividing spheres of influence in Yemen—a
proposal also rejected). It is not only Lebanon that faces a threat, but the
entire Arab region.
Between the Fires of the South and the Sword of Sanctions:
Lebanon Under Financial and Military Pressure
Mounir Al-Rabie/Al-Modon/October 15/2026 (AI
translation from Arabic)
The statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz regarding the
occupation of new territory in southern Lebanon are not new, though he chose to
make them public. Israel had already briefed the United States on this entire
scenario and conveyed it to Lebanese officials through various diplomatic
channels. While the timing of his announcement is certainly linked to electoral
calculations, it also reflects a clear vision held by the Netanyahu
government—one that will not abandon its plans. True, the Israelis have
conditioned the evacuation of the entire south up to the Awali River, the
re-evacuation of the Southern Suburbs (Dahiyeh), and the occupation of new
territory on potential military operations by Hezbollah or the party’s entry
into the fight alongside Iran; yet, this signals Israel’s approach to the
inevitability of war with Iran, and secondly, it reveals the reality of what the
Israelis desire and envision for the south.
The Zahrani Plan
A few days ago, *Al-Modon* published a report titled "The Region Faces Maps of
War and Fire... Zahrani in the Crosshairs of Calculations." The report clearly
outlined Israel’s efforts to persuade the United States of the need to renew the
war against Iran and to target approximately 500 sites—including power plants,
electrical facilities, nuclear installations, and infrastructure—in an attempt
to shift the balance of power within Iran and pave the way for the regime's
overthrow. These details were subsequently reported by US media outlets,
including *Axios*. However, the "Al-Modon" report also highlights Israel's clear
intention to expand its occupation in the south as far as the banks of the
Zahrani River and to seize control of the Zahrani refinery. This move is part of
an Israeli effort to pressure Lebanon not only militarily and politically but
also economically and regarding its oil sector.
**A War Awaiting a Pretext**
Israel is clearly outlining its plan and leaking reports about Hezbollah
reinforcing its deployment in the south—particularly in Jabal al-Rihan and Iqlim
al-Tuffah. This signals that Israel is laying the groundwork for a new military
operation for which it seeks a pretext; it may wait for a provocation from
Hezbollah or fabricate the necessary justification itself. Such a war appears
inevitable—whether before or after the elections—because the Israeli agenda is
clear and can only be realized through conflict. This is especially true given
the failure of political pressures and attempts to force security and military
coordination upon the Lebanese state, as well as the failure of the "pilot zone"
experiments. Furthermore, Tel Aviv increasingly accuses the Lebanese government
of failing to fulfill its mandate to disarm Hezbollah, and is working with
Washington to explore alternative options.
**American Pressure**
This aligns with the daily frustration expressed by the US regarding the
Lebanese state and Hezbollah’s ability to bring in funds and announce aid and
housing programs—developments that have prompted three separate statements from
the US State Department denying Iran's capacity to finance the party. These
American statements inevitably reflect specific measures Washington is
considering—measures that entail increased pressure on both the Lebanese state
and Hezbollah. Washington has persisted in pressuring the Lebanese Army to
disarm the group, even going so far as to threaten sanctions. This
threat—renewed following the announcement of the party’s program—will drive the
U.S. to intensify pressure on various Lebanese military, security, and judicial
entities. The aim is to financially isolate Hezbollah, blocking the inflow of
funds and preventing the group from exploiting Lebanese state institutions.
While there is certainly ongoing debate in Washington regarding the methods
Hezbollah uses to move funds, it is equally certain that this process will be
protracted and pressure will mount; ultimately, the U.S. seeks to bring about a
comprehensive political and military upheaval in Lebanon.
Washington monitors Lebanon's "deep state" and is disturbed
by the law boycotting Israel
George Hayek/Al-Modon/October 16, 2026 (AI
translation from Arabic)
The case of the Lebanese ambassador to the United States of America, Nada Moawad,
before the military court in Lebanon is not the only one that is disturbing the
American administration these days. There is also the law boycotting Israel, the
Lebanese government’s refusal to implement its decisions related to restricting
weapons, and the Lebanese army’s timid handling of this issue. Data received
from Washington reveal that the decision-making circles there, based on the case
of Ambassador Moawad, attach great importance to the issue of repealing the
“Boycott of Israel” law, which US President Donald Trump promised to follow up
on, and link this issue to the performance of the Lebanese Military Court, which
issues prison sentences in absentia against Lebanese journalists and activists,
against the backdrop of their communication with Israeli media or publishing
comments critical of “Hezbollah.” Diplomatic sources related to the US State
Department wonder whether the military court, in such cases, protects the state
and the law, or is it turning into a tool used by the dominant armed political
force to intimidate its opponents and silence opposing voices. The case of
Ambassador Moawad aroused the anger of the US administration, which attaches
great importance to her in view of her influence on the course of the
Lebanese-Israeli negotiations. The US State Department was keen to issue a
strongly worded statement against the backdrop of the complaint submitted by the
lawyer affiliated with the party, Hassan Adel Bazzi, due to its communication
with the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Laiter, to check on his
son, who was injured in a terrorist attack. Diplomatic sources pointed out that
they were not surprised by the performance of the military court, which has a
long history of implementing the “party’s” goals. It is considered that this
complaint aims to harass Ambassador Moawad, who is implementing the policy of
her legitimate government and participating in the negotiations led by the
United States, and the latter will not allow any harm to Moawad’s role and the
job she holds.
The sources indicate that the US State Department is awaiting the outcome of the
complaint, and whether it will lead to legal action or will be rejected and
closed. Note that there are American fears that the complaint will discourage
participants in the negotiations between Lebanon and Israel from performing
their duties. Indeed, there is an American consensus that such a step would
complicate diplomatic efforts between the two countries, in light of the
political and security tensions that Lebanon is witnessing. However, the sources
indicate that Washington separates the Lebanese army from the military court,
and that there is a tendency among the American administration to place officers
who work within the military justice system under the guillotine of American
sanctions, because they work against the directions of the Lebanese government
and its citizens, instead of pursuing “party” members. However, this will not
affect the aid that Washington provides to the Lebanese army. At the same time,
the data confirm that Washington is working to mobilize pressure tools and
incentives to pave the way for success led by the Lebanese state. For example,
Washington links the use of US sanctions to those who undermine stability in
Lebanon, and to everyone associated with them within the deep state. Therefore,
some of the names that obstruct the implementation of the Lebanese government’s
decisions will not be excluded from a new sanctions package, without the sources
disclosing these names. However, they believe that there is no ceiling on the
sanctions, and no consideration for any of the civilian and military officials
who collude with the “party.” The irony is that several research centers linked
to the US administration consider that the current circumstances surrounding the
negotiations and implementation of the framework agreement are unfavorable, as
Iran continues to reorganize the “party” through the Iranian Revolutionary
Guard, and to finance and arm it. It remains a disciplined and ideologically
unified force determined to achieve its goals, and its residual capacity for
coercion, influence within Lebanese institutions, and reputation for
fearsomeness have so far prevented the state from confronting it militarily. But
the research centers we contacted confirm that the negotiations will be
completed sooner or later, and that there is no alternative to the framework
agreement and the model experimental areas project. This agreement enjoys the
support of both the Republican and Democratic parties, but American aid to the
Lebanese army is linked to the extent of its success in disarming the party. The
US administration will also support recovery and reconstruction efforts led by
the Lebanese government, and impose sanctions on the “party” and isolate it.
These centers indicate that Washington currently possesses the necessary
elements for victory in Lebanon: leadership, popular support, an organizational
framework, and tools of influence. A crucial point highlighted by diplomatic
sources is that the Lebanese authorities' hesitation regarding the containment
of "the Party's" arsenal can be overcome. By transforming the Lebanese Army into
a force capable and ready to enforce sovereignty, successfully implementing the
"model areas" initiative, depriving "the Party" of the means to replenish its
capabilities, and irreversibly shifting political calculations in favor of the
state and at the expense of the militia, Washington can provide the final
element needed for victory. These sources believe the U.S. has already tested a
successful and viable model in Iraq, where it enabled the Iraqi Army to defeat
the "Islamic State" (ISIS). It intends to replicate this approach with the
Lebanese Army by providing American advisors and trainers, alongside
intelligence, logistical, and fire support. Consequently, the Lebanese Army
would achieve results similar to those of "Operation Inherent Resolve" in
supporting the Iraqi forces that confronted and defeated ISIS. However, U.S.
diplomatic sources harbor reservations regarding the performance of General
Rodolphe Haykal; they believe that the success of the move to contain "the
Party's" weapons depends on military leadership possessing a mindset equal to
the task. While acknowledging the Lebanese Army's initiative to secure Beirut
Airport, they emphasize that such decisiveness must be reflected across all
levels of command, as personnel are the essence of policy. According to sources,
if the Lebanese Army intends to assert sovereignty, it must demonstrate—starting
from the highest echelons—that it has moved beyond its traditional role as an
institution content merely to maintain a balance of power and preserve civil
peace. This would trigger a self-reinforcing dynamic: increased US presence and
support, coupled with a more assertive Lebanese military leadership, would
embolden elements within the army ready to take action, thereby cementing a firm
stance with every step forward. The mood in Washington appears to be shifting
toward ramping up pressure on the Lebanese government at all levels, compelling
it to implement decisions that have long languished in dormancy. Washington will
also actively seek to dissuade the Military Court from pursuing the prosecution
of Ambassador Moawad, who has become a strategic figure in the Lebanese-Israeli
negotiations. This effort will align with the actions of Christian parties that
oppose "the Party" and support both Moawad and the negotiation process. General
Joseph Aoun will also be deeply invested in this matter; Moawad is a member of
his negotiating team, and any prosecution against her could jeopardize the
credible path toward peace between Lebanon and Israel that Aoun has initiated.
That path can only be strengthened by bolstering the state, weakening the "deep
state," supporting economic recovery, and ensuring that the disarmament process
is politically and strategically sustainable.
What Can the EU’s New Force Offer Lebanon?
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
If Lebanon wants to reclaim control of its borders, it must recognize that while
the EU can grade its homework, only the Lebanese army can hold the line. o
peacekeeping force in modern history has failed to stop as many wars as the
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). For decades, it provided
diplomatic cover for the progressive erosion of security and state sovereignty
in southern Lebanon rather than enforcing the dismantling of militias it was
mandated to oversee. As UNIFIL’s mandate approaches its December 31 expiration
date, Lebanese leaders have warned of a security vacuum along the southern
frontier, one the peacekeeping force never managed to address, and have lobbied
for UNIFIL’s extension or an international replacement. France and Turkey both
offered to deploy troops along the volatile border. Israel vetoed both
proposals, citing what it described as systemic French and Turkish bias and the
risk of operational complicity with Hezbollah. With few alternatives, Lebanon
turned to the European Union for assistance. On October 12, the EU approved a
Security Mission in Lebanon (EUSM) with the stated goals of contributing to
peace and security in Lebanon, supporting the strengthening of state
institutions, and promoting lasting stability in accordance with UN Security
Council Resolution 1701.The new force is far smaller than UNIFIL in size,
raising questions about its capacity to fulfill its assigned missions.
Structurally, EUSM Lebanon will operate under a unified political mandate with
distinct military and civilian pillars. The military pillar focuses on
bolstering the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) through strategic advice and
specialized training in intelligence, counter-smuggling, land border
surveillance, and maritime security. Meanwhile, the civilian pillar will
support the Internal Security Forces (ISF) by developing training programs for
cybercrime prevention and anti-smuggling, while also strengthening port security
governance, specifically at the vital Port of Beirut. President Joseph Aoun
welcomed the EU’s decision, describing it as a powerful testament to Europe’s
commitment to Lebanon’s stability and a vote of confidence in the country’s
legitimate security institutions. Aoun said EUSM’s expertise and training would
support the Lebanese government’s policy of restricting arms to legitimate state
forces and extending state authority across the country. He pledged full
domestic cooperation to ensure the mission’s success, describing the partnership
as essential to long-term national security.
Somehow, the EU and Lebanon believe that EUSM can fulfill its gargantuan
mission with a mere 150 personnel.
Lebanon, which previously fought tooth and nail to maintain the 10,000-strong
UNIFIL presence, seems to have now become resigned to the reality of a tiny
force operating with a much broader mandate. While no one realistically believes
that EUSM will make a dent in Lebanon’s security dynamics, currently dominated
by Hezbollah, the European force might still serve one small, yet crucially
important, function. Talks between Lebanon and Israel have stalled over the
implementation of the June 26 Trilateral Framework brokered by the U.S. A
neutral third party is needed to verify conditions on the ground in the pilot
zones. The initiative calls for the LAF to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in
designated pilot zones under the Framework. Israel considers it a failure,
pointing to Hezbollah’s reassertion of its presence in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, the
first pilot zone transferred from Israeli to LAF control. President Joseph Aoun,
by contrast, has declared the initiative a success. A neutral third party is
therefore needed to verify conditions on the ground in the pilot zones. Israel
needs confirmation that Lebanon has dismantled Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the
designated pilot zones, rather than simply deploying the LAF to coexist
alongside the militia and its weapons depots. The new EU force is uniquely
positioned to break this deadlock by independently verifying Lebanon’s
compliance as outlined by the Trilateral Framework. If EUSM verification checks
out, Israel can then confidently hand over more territory to the Lebanese army,
subsequently inviting EUSM to conduct further verification rounds in newly
vacated zones. The only major drawback to this plan is scale. While EUSM can
adequately verify compliance during a single, focused inspection, the 150-man
contingent is simply too small to maintain a monitoring mission in southern
Lebanon. Without a continuous watchdog presence, there is no guarantee that
Hezbollah will not reestablish its presence in these areas once the inspectors
leave. The heavy burden of holding territory will fall squarely on the LAF and
the other domestic security agencies that the EU force is supposed to train.
If Lebanon wants to reclaim control of its borders, it must recognize that while
the EU can grade its homework, only the Lebanese army can hold the line.
Hezbollah Faces Growing Shia Backlash but Retains Its Grip
on the Ground
Claudia Groeling & Ralph Atrach/This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
s confrontations between Hezbollah and Amal Movement supporters multiply, This
is Beirut spoke with sources in southern Lebanon about widening divisions within
the country’s Shia community, long dominated by the two allied parties. On June
5, Amal and Hezbollah partisans clashed in Baissariyeh, a town approximately 15
kilometers south of Sidon, over concerns that Hezbollah was storing military
equipment and rocket launchers in a residential area. A similar incident
occurred on September 7 in Arab Salim, where Amal supporters feared Hezbollah’s
activities could provoke Israeli strikes on the town, located five kilometers
north of Nabatieh. A source in the Nabatieh district said Amal supporters are
increasingly voicing frustration over losing their homes and livelihoods in wars
launched by Hezbollah. Amal officials, meanwhile, are urging them to remain
silent, arguing that this is not the time to deepen divisions within the Shia
community.Following reports of clashes, Hezbollah and Amal have repeatedly
issued joint statements emphasizing their unity.Lebanese media outlets have
reported only a portion of the incidents, while a source in the Tyre district
confirmed that clashes are becoming more frequent. “We have had enough of the
war. We paid the highest price. Our villages and our homes are destroyed,” the
source told This is Beirut. “Hezbollah's arms can’t protect us. We don't care
about politics. We want to avoid the destruction of our houses and the dangers
that our families could face,” the source added. Residents of southern Lebanon
affiliated with Amal are increasingly concerned that Hezbollah’s weapons could
draw Israeli strikes on their communities, according to political analyst Ahmad
Ayash. “People are asking themselves: What will happen to our interests, lives,
and futures?” he told This is Beirut. These fears have fueled confrontations
within the Shia community in southern Lebanon, reflecting growing opposition to
the region remaining a battlefield for outside interests, he said.
Hezbollah Still Controls the Ground
The incidents have yet to translate into a broader political challenge to
Hezbollah, despite growing frustration with its weapons. Beyond Amal’s continued
political alignment with Hezbollah, the group’s control on the ground remains a
major obstacle to open opposition. While Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have made high-profile visits to southern Lebanon in
recent weeks to promote new state initiatives, a resident of Nabatieh dismissed
the visits as largely performative, saying the Lebanese army exercises little
authority on the ground. “Residents who are concerned that Hezbollah’s weapons
will bring destruction to their homes and families will not take a stance
against the group while they see that state institutions are still serving
Hezbollah,” the source said. Hezbollah continues to deploy its fighters across
southern Lebanon, monitoring activity in Shia-populated towns, the source said.
As a result, discontent rarely surfaces in public discourse. The source pointed
to Hezbollah’s telecommunications network as an example of how the group
continues to operate despite the Lebanese state’s presence. Following the 2026
Israel-Hezbollah war, Hezbollah expanded this network by installing new wires in
areas and neighborhoods where its infrastructure had not previously reached.
According to the source, the group is using state infrastructure to operate its
military telecommunications network through utility poles, allowing it to
communicate without relying on wireless systems that could be intercepted by
Israel.
On May 7, 2008, Hezbollah stormed Beirut after the Lebanese government declared
Hezbollah's private telecommunications network illegal. “Until now, the people
are afraid to confront Hezbollah when they see Hezbollah using state
infrastructure for military purposes,” the source argued. State institutions,
the source added, have taken no action to address the misuse of state
infrastructure. Hezbollah’s continued security presence was evident during a
This is Beirut visit to Nabatieh in September, when one of the militia’s
operatives told our crew it could not film without Hezbollah’s permission. The
encounter offered a stark illustration of Hezbollah’s continued authority in
southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese army’s authorization was insufficient to
override the militia’s demands. It also reflects Hezbollah’s confidence that
Lebanon’s military, security, and judicial institutions will not act to curb its
power.
When a This is Beirut journalist presented a letter from the Lebanese army
authorizing the filming, the operative dismissed it, saying, “We don’t recognize
the army’s permission.”
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on
October 15-16/2026 (Some of the News reports below are
translated from Arabic by AI)
CENTCOM Refutes Iran’s Claims
Regarding Hormuz and Confirms Continued Navigation
Riyadh: AlArabiya.net and agencies/October 15/2026 (AI
translation from Arabic)
On Thursday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) of persisting with what it described as "false claims"
regarding control over the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM affirmed that the United
States and its regional partners continue to secure the vital waterway and that
commercial shipping traffic is proceeding despite Iranian attacks. In a post on
its X account, CENTCOM stated that IRGC claims regarding a Singapore-flagged
container ship striking a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday were
"incorrect." It noted that the civilian container ship *M/V GFS Pride* was
struck by a projectile fired by the IRGC before sinking while being towed to
shore. The command added that more than 40 vessels had transited the Strait of
Hormuz over the past 24 hours, confirming that the strait's main shipping lanes
remain free of mines. CENTCOM also denied Iranian claims regarding the deaths of
hundreds of U.S. soldiers in Jordan, clarifying that three U.S. soldiers were
killed last July while partner forces were defending against Iran-linked
attacks, and emphasizing the honoring of the memory of all U.S. service members
who lost their lives in the line of duty.
US-Israel-Iran Escalation Raises Regional Alert Level
Al-Modon/ October 15/ 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
CBS News, citing a Pentagon official, revealed that the US military is
formulating plans for a wide range of scenarios to implement directives from
President Donald Trump and the Secretary of Defense. Meanwhile, CNN
reported—citing US officials—that these plans could involve using the GBU-43/B
bomb, known as the "Mother of All Bombs" (MOAB), against Iranian energy
infrastructure and nuclear facilities should Trump decide to resume combat
operations. Concurrently, Israeli reports indicated that US Secretary of State
Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephone
conversation. The Israeli public broadcaster "Kan 11" noted that Israel has
raised its alert level in recent days; security consultations were held Thursday
night between Netanyahu and security agency chiefs in anticipation of a
potential escalation. An informed source described the meeting as a routine
session scheduled due to the current tense atmosphere, clarifying that there is
no concrete intelligence regarding an intent by Iran or Hezbollah to attack
Israel. However, the Israeli military is monitoring developments and
characterizing the period as "sensitive," particularly given that Iran has been
conducting tests of ballistic missiles and drones since last week. In response,
the Iranian army commander vowed that the enemy's infrastructure and interests
would suffer compounded damage should Iran's own infrastructure come under
threat; meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian army affirmed their
readiness to retaliate with strikes described as "more painful" to U.S.
interests in the region. On Thursday evening, Washington announced sanctions
against 16 individuals and 10 entities linked to Iran, with the U.S. Treasury
Department stating that the measures targeted Iran's international financial
networks and its parallel banking system. On the ground, security data indicated
that at least 10 ships had been attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz since
last Sunday—the highest number of incidents since the outbreak of the war on
Iran on February 28, 2026. In response, Tehran stated that protecting the Strait
of Hormuz is the responsibility of regional states, asserting that while it does
not seek war, it will meet any aggression with a decisive counterstrike. An
Iranian deputy foreign minister warned nations against placing their territories
at the disposal of those launching attacks on Iran, emphasizing that sustainable
security in Asia is achieved through confidence-building rather than threats and
pressure, and that the protection of the Strait rests with the countries of the
region and the littoral states, not with forces arriving from across the oceans.
Trump Cancels Live Broadcast of Nidal Hasan’s Execution
Al-Modon/October 15/2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
US President Donald Trump has decided to cancel the planned live broadcast of
the execution of the former US Army Major who killed 13 people at Fort Hood. On
Thursday, he stated that he had overruled the Secretary of Defense, who had
intended to turn the procedure into a public spectacle. Earlier this month,
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had announced that Nidal Hasan would be
executed by firing squad on December 3 at Fort Hood, Texas—the site of his 2009
attack—and had surprised many by stating the execution would be broadcast live.
No other country is known to broadcast judicial executions on television or via
live stream. Trump wrote on social media: "I believe broadcasting the execution
for all to see could have served as a powerful deterrent, showing the world how
America deals with terrorists and the scum like Hasan; however, many good,
well-intentioned people prefer not to witness his death—whether via live
broadcast or any other visual medium." He added: "He will die by firing squad as
scheduled, but the event will not be broadcast." Relatives of Hasan’s victims
will be able to attend the execution in person if they choose, in accordance
with standard U.S. execution procedures. Hasan, a former U.S. Army psychiatrist,
was convicted by a military court of shooting and killing 13 people at Fort
Hood, Texas, in 2009. Hegseth had previously stated that broadcasting the
execution was necessary to ensure the public understood that "there are severe
consequences for these kinds of things."
Washington Divided Over Renewed Strikes on Iran
Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
Divisions have emerged within the Trump administration over whether to resume
major military operations against Iran, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and
US Central Command (CENTCOM) leadership favoring fresh strikes while most
presidential advisers advocate continued economic pressure, Axios reported. The
disagreement comes after President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a possible joint operation against Iranian military
and nuclear facilities last week, according to US and Israeli officials and
another informed source.On Wednesday, Netanyahu warned that Iran’s proxies were
seeking to launch missiles and carry out attacks. Speaking to Israeli Army
Radio, he said he opposed a preemptive strike on Tehran ahead of the elections,
arguing that the timing was inappropriate. He nevertheless vowed to eliminate
Hamas and Hezbollah and bring down Iran within two years.
Military Option Remains Open
The discussions suggest military escalation remains possible despite Trump’s
insistence that he will not attack Iran before the US midterm elections,
scheduled a week after Israel’s October 27 vote.A US official said Netanyahu
appeared eager to resume hostilities, but Trump had offered no firm commitment.
“Go ahead and prepare,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, a remark the official
said could signal imminent action, a later operation or no attack at all. A
White House official denied that the leaders had discussed resuming the war,
reiterating Trump’s position on the midterms. Netanyahu’s office confirmed
regular contacts with Washington but declined to discuss their substance.
According to the sources, Trump initially appeared inclined toward renewed
strikes before becoming more hesitant. Hegseth and CENTCOM leaders remain the
strongest advocates of military action, while most advisers argue that sanctions
and other economic measures are increasingly effective. The debate pits military
action aimed at disrupting Iran’s capabilities against sustained pressure
intended to extract concessions without another round of fighting. US and
Israeli forces remain on alert, although preparations do not indicate that a
final decision has been made.
Nuclear Concerns
Israel says intelligence indicates Iran is rebuilding parts of its nuclear
program, concerns Netanyahu raised with Trump. Israeli officials are
particularly worried that Tehran could use the Pickaxe Mountain facility for
uranium enrichment. Senior Trump administration officials met for hours at Camp
David on October 2 to discuss possible renewed strikes, including operations
against Iranian military installations. Whether the intelligence concerns will
prompt military action or strengthen Washington’s negotiating position remains
unclear. The electoral calendar further complicates the calculations. A renewed
offensive could provoke hundreds of Iranian ballistic missile launches toward
Israel, potentially widening the conflict and disrupting its elections.
Diplomacy Continues
Meanwhile, Qatari mediators are awaiting Tehran’s response to Washington’s
latest counterproposal to end the war, which demands nuclear concessions.A US
official said negotiations had not collapsed but were making little progress.
The official said Tehran had expected Trump to retreat under wartime pressure
and with the midterms approaching, but the president had demonstrated that those
calculations were mistaken. On Tuesday, Trump again called Iran a “failed state”
and said Washington would make a decision concerning Tehran “very soon.”
Pezeshkian: Iran is Facing its Most Intense Blockade since
1979
Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that the country was facing its
most intense blockade since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, accusing the United
States of seeking to provoke public protests. Iran and the United States have
been at war since February 28, when US and Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme
leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Over the 48 years since the Revolution, we have
never faced such intense blockade, war and difficulties as we are facing now,"
Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast by state television. He accused Washington
of seeking to make life difficult for Iranians in order to fuel public anger and
trigger unrest. Pezeshkian said the US was focusing its efforts on making "the
people become upset and face difficulties, and then for social protests to
emerge so that they can achieve their sinister objectives". The US imposed a
blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran's closure of the strategic
Strait of Hormuz, diverting or stopping vessels travelling to and from Iranian
ports. Iran has repeatedly accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest inside
the country, and in recent months has executed several Iranians accused of
collaborating with its foes. In late December last year, protests over the cost
of living erupted in Iran, spreading nationwide and evolving into a wider
anti-government movement. Iran's rulers blamed the US and Israel for the unrest.
US Considers Hitting Iran with 'Mother of All Bombs'
Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
The United States is considering using its biggest non-nuclear bomb against Iran
if President Donald Trump should decide to renew combat in the war that has hit
a deadlock, CNN reported Thursday. The military is planning for the potential
use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb -- better known by
its nickname, the "Mother Of All Bombs" -- to target Iranian energy
infrastructure and nuclear sites, according to the news outlet, which quoted
officials familiar with the matter. Trump is trying to boost his low approval
ratings ahead of November's midterm elections, with polls showing the unpopular
war in Iran and fuel and other price rises it has caused are hurting his
Republican Party. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which erupted with
US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, have been at an impasse since the
summer. But officials have raised doubts over the efficacy of the bomb if it
were deployed, particularly its ability to destroy suspected underground nuclear
sites in Iran. "The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is
great for huge area clearance but not much else," a source familiar with the
plans told CNN. "It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead."
The United States and Israel have said the war was necessary to prevent Iran
from acquiring nuclear weapons -- a goal Tehran has long denied pursuing. There
are also concerns over the possibility of civilian casualties from such a huge
weapon, according to AFP. Washington has in recent weeks dialled back military
operations in favour of economic pressure. In 2017, the US military in
Afghanistan dropped the "MOAB" to target ISIS group hideouts in a complex of
tunnels and bunkers, killing more than 90 militants.
US, Israel Differ Over Timing of Strike on Iran
London, Tehran : Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
A group of senior US military officials, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth,
is pushing to resume the war against Iran, while advisers to US President Donald
Trump favor continuing to "strangle Iran" through economic sanctions. In Israel,
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Wednesday that he opposed launching a
preemptive strike on Tehran ahead of the Israeli elections, but insisted that he
would "bring Iran down" within the next two years. The US-Israeli differences
over the timing of renewed military action coincided with reports that Iran had
adopted "new tactics" to target ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A
container ship was also reported to have caught fire and sunk after striking a
mine. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Brig. Gen.
Hossein Mohibbi said Iran had acquired far more advanced weapons following the
40-day war. On the ground, three people were injured when an unidentified drone
struck a fishing boat off Sirik in Hormozgan province, southern Iran.
Germany jails two individuals who plotted to assassinate
Jewish leaders on behalf of Iran
Al-Modon/October 15/2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
A German court handed down prison sentences on Thursday to two individuals
convicted of gathering intelligence on Jewish targets and preparing to carry out
attacks against prominent figures who support Israel, acting on Iranian
instructions. The Regional Court in Hamburg sentenced Danish national Ali S. to
eight and a half years in prison after convicting him of plotting assassinations
targeting Volker Beck, head of the German-Israeli Society, and Josef Schuster,
president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The court also sentenced
his accomplice, Afghan national Tawab M., to four and a half years in prison;
prosecutors stated that he had agreed to recruit a third operative and provide
him with a firearm to assassinate Beck. Judge Petra Winde-Spurth affirmed that
the acts for which the two defendants were convicted constituted "terrorist
activities orchestrated from within Iran," explaining that the Danish defendant
had worked to prepare for a killing driven by "purely political motives."
According to the prosecution, the defendant received direct instructions from
the Quds Force—the external operations arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC)—starting in early 2025; his tasks included surveilling a Jewish
grocery store in Berlin. Security authorities had arrested the convicted men in
Denmark last year before extraditing them to Germany.
Call for Expulsion of Iranian Ambassador
Following the court's ruling, Volker Beck emphasized that "the trial proceedings
clearly revealed the mechanisms by which Iranian terrorism is exported to German
soil," reiterating his calls for the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador. Beck
added that "this verdict serves as a stern warning to Germany's security
apparatus, given that the Islamic Republic of Iran engages in state-sponsored
terrorism and targets political dissidents as well as Jewish and Israeli
interests through threats and persecution." Notably, the German Foreign Ministry
had summoned the Iranian ambassador to Berlin in July 2025 following the
detention of Ali S. in Denmark, while the Iranian embassy in Berlin issued a
statement last month denying the charges against the two men, dismissing them as
"baseless allegations instigated by Iran's enemies."
Saudi-Led Coalition Says 127 Houthi Weapons Storage
Sites Destroyed, Vows Continued Operations
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki announced on Thursday that
coalition forces had carried out targeted military operations against Houthi
positions in Yemen in response to attacks on airports and air navigation. Al-Maliki
said coalition forces had destroyed 127 weapons storage facilities in
mountainous areas over the past few days, along with numerous Houthi missile and
drone launch platforms, as part of efforts to dismantle the group’s military
capabilities.He accused the Houthis of establishing storage facilities in
mountainous areas of Sanaa, Saada, and Amran, using them as bases for launching
attacks, and of exploiting civilian infrastructure to sustain their military
operations. The spokesperson also claimed that the Houthis had acquired advanced
technologies with assistance from regional parties. According to al-Maliki, the
Houthis have launched 1,104 missiles and 1,135 drones at Saudi Arabia since the
beginning of military operations, attempting to target dozens of airports, oil
facilities, and ports across the Kingdom. He further reported that Houthi
attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh had resulted in 17 deaths
and more than 330 injuries.
Al-Maliki also condemned what he described as Houthi attempts to target Islam’s
two holiest mosques, calling them “outrageous and brutal” and portraying them as
part of a broader campaign against religious sites. Warning that Houthi attacks
threaten regional and international security and stability, the coalition
spokesperson reaffirmed that military operations would continue to deter the
group. “We are continuing our operations to deter the terrorist Houthi
militias,” he said.
Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran of Encouraging Houthis in Latest
Escalation
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
A Saudi foreign ministry official on Thursday accused Iran of encouraging the
Houthis in the latest escalation of their fight with the kingdom, adding that
the Islamic republic continues to arm and train the group. "Iran continues to
arm, train and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN security council
resolutions," Dr. Rayed Krimly, deputy minister for public diplomacy at the
foreign ministry, said during a virtual briefing with reporters. "We think that
the escalation by the Houthis at this latest stage of the conflict is encouraged
by Iran," he later said. The official said the kingdom however remained in
communication with Iran, even if Tehran appeared unwilling to offer concessions.
"We continue to have direct communications with Iran," Krimly told reporters.
"Overall, it doesn't seem yet that the Iranians are able to provide the
necessary concessions for a solution."The official went on to accuse the Houthis
of refusing to meet in Oman in recent weeks as fighting ramped up between the
two sides. "At the beginning of this escalation, we asked them to meet in
Muscat, Oman and they refused," he added. "This was the last communication which
happened a few weeks ago." The world's top crude oil exporter has in recent days
come under sustained attack, including a strike on Riyadh's international
airport that was the deadliest in years, as the war with the Houthis
dramatically escalates. Yemen's civil war reignited in July after a UN-brokered
truce collapsed, months into a wider Middle East war that has rocked the region
and roiled energy supplies and markets. The conflict in the country has caused
what the United Nations calls one of the world's worst humanitarian crises,
leaving most of the nation's population dependent on aid. The Saudi-led
coalition has fought the Houthis since 2015 after they seized Yemen's capital
Sanaa and forced out the internationally recognised government from the city,
until a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022.
Houthi Attack on Presidential Palace in Yemen's Aden kills 4
This Is Beirut/October 15/2026
The Houthis carried out a missile attack on the Yemeni government's presidential
palace in the interim capital of Aden on Thursday, with government military
sources reporting four killed. Residents of the southern city reported hearing
explosions on Thursday, while a journalist saw smoke rising from the site, which
also serves as the headquarters of the internationally recognised government.
Three local police sources said on condition of anonymity that "Houthi missiles
targeted the Al-Maashiq presidential palace". Government military sources later
said four people were killed and 10 others wounded in the attack. Media
affiliated with the pro-Iran Houthis said they had targeted "the headquarters of
military operations, led by Saudi officers, at the Al-Maashiq Palace in Aden, as
well as weapons depots belonging to them". Government forces also said on social
media Thursday that the Houthis had fired "several ballistic missiles" at the
central city of Marib, which sits in a strategic oil-rich region. Yemen's
long-running civil war flared back to life in July after the collapse of a
years-long truce, with the Houthis going on to launch a lightning offensive that
saw them seize swathes of strategic territory along the country's Red Sea coast.
The group has also launched repeated missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi
Arabia, which leads a military coalition that has been supporting the Yemeni
government since 2015. Saudi retaliatory strikes and a government
counter-offensive have so far failed to reverse the recent gains made by the
group, which already controlled much of the country's most populated areas,
including the capital Sanaa.
Coalition: Houthis Must Immediately Halt Terrorist
Attacks on Civilian Facilities
Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen has called for an immediate halt to
Houthi attacks on civilian facilities. Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki
Al-Maliki said the Iran-backed Houthis had carried out 20 attacks on Riyadh
airport in October, stressing that the group must immediately cease its
terrorist operations against civilian facilities. At a press conference in
Riyadh, Al-Maliki presented a list of attacks targeting the airport this month.
"The Houthis must immediately halt all terrorist operations targeting civilians
and civilian objects, including airports, ports, oil facilities and
infrastructure," he said. Al-Maliki added that the Houthi militia had sought to
acquire advanced technologies with the assistance of regional actors, noting
that the group possesses ballistic missiles, attack and suicide drones, and
explosive-laden speedboats. Meanwhile, the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in
Yemen continued to intercept Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, announcing that it
had intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Eastern Province after intercepting
and destroying a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia toward Riyadh.
The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense also reported that debris from
the interception of a ballistic missile fell in Riyadh, injuring an Arab
resident and causing limited material damage to a home and a vehicle.
2 Ships Ablaze in Romanian Black Sea Waters, 7 Sailors
Missing
Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
Rescuers were searching for seven missing crew on Thursday from one of two
chemical tankers that caught fire overnight inside Romanian territorial waters
in the Black Sea, after Russian drones strayed into Romanian airspace, Romanian
officials said. Romanian officials stopped short of explicitly linking the fires
onboard the ships to the Russian drones. But the incidents follow drone strikes
on at least five other cargo ships near the coasts of Romania and neighboring
fellow NATO member Bulgaria over the past 10 days. At least 23 sailors were lost
from those strikes, which unlike the latest incidents took place just outside
NATO's territorial waters. The two ships hit overnight were both anchored in
the Black Sea near the mouth of the canal leading into the Danube River, a major
shipping route used by Ukraine as Russia has attacked Ukraine's own Black Sea
ports. Romania's naval authority said it received an emergency alert from the
San Marino-flagged tanker. Seven of its 12 crew were missing and 5 were rescued,
Reuters reported. The interior ministry said it had sent two Black Hawk
helicopters to the search and rescue mission, as well as two ships with medical
staff on board. "At the moment, the rescue cannot be done safely because of very
big waves," it said in a statement. Late on Wednesday, a Comoros-flagged
chemical and oil tanker also caught fire. Romanian authorities initially said it
was not clear whether it had been attacked. All its crew were safe. Romania
shares a 614-km (381-mile) border with Ukraine, much of it along the Danube. It
has reported repeated breaches of its airspace by Russian drones over the past
four years. Both vessels caught fire near the mouth of the Danube River's Sulina
Canal leading to the Black Sea, where ships often anchor waiting to pass because
of delays from weather and congestion. Increasing attacks on Black Sea
shipping connected with the Russia-Ukraine war in recent months have threatened
to cause a global food crisis, as both countries are major exporters of grain,
as is Romania. "We're looking at the Black Sea as a global food artery,"
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu told a security conference in Warsaw earlier
this week. "It is currently, unfortunately, the deadliest sea when it comes to
the number of casualties of sailors in the last months. That means we need to
increase our investments in deterrence, defense."Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen
Radev said EU leaders would discuss on Thursday a proposed moratorium on attacks
on civilian ships in the Black Sea. Russia has been bombing Ukraine's Black Sea
ports, forcing Kyiv to rely increasingly on Danube River ports and shipping
routes close to the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania. For its part, Ukraine has
targeted Russian ships near the mouth of the Don River in the Azov Sea.
Fighting Deepens Pressure on Taiz as Houthi Leaders Captured
Taiz/Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
Fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi group intensified on
several fronts as Operation “Dawn of Yemen” entered its 10th day, with the
southwestern province of Taiz emerging as the main strategic and operational
battleground. The clashes have seen government forces capture Houthi security
officials, while fighting has spread to neighboring Lahj province and to Marib
and al-Jawf in northeastern Yemen. Ground battles are raging on five main fronts
around Taiz city, while government forces continue to track and strike Houthi
positions and fighters in Lahj, Marib and al-Jawf. At the same time, the
humanitarian situation in Taiz is worsening, amid accusations that the Houthis
have attacked civilians in incidents that killed and wounded several people. The
media center of the Taiz Military Axis said fierce clashes broke out between its
forces, backed by the Popular Resistance, and the Houthis on fronts west and
northwest of Taiz. Fighting has continued since Wednesday morning on the al-Dhabab
front west of the city and on the al-Aqroud and al-Shaqab fronts to the south,
intensifying later in the day. According to the center, warplanes struck a
convoy of Houthi tanks, vehicles and armored vehicles in the Ras al-Najd area of
al-Misrakh district. It said aircraft also carried out two strikes on Houthi
positions on Sofitel Hill east of Taiz city, followed by two more strikes on
Wednesday evening targeting a tank and a vehicle on the al-Dhabab front. The
center said more than 200 Houthi fighters were killed or wounded. It also
reported the destruction of a vehicle and an armed convoy, damage to two tanks
and the downing of a drone. Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman
Rashad al-Alimi announced on the fifth of this month the launch of the
large-scale “Dawn of Yemen” operation, aimed at restoring state institutions,
recapturing the capital Sanaa, ending the Houthi takeover and returning weapons
and decisions over war and peace to the constitutional state.
Security blow hits Houthis
The Taiz Military Axis media office described fighting on the al-Dhabab front as
the bloodiest, saying the Houthis were trying to break through the city’s
western entrance around the strategic Jabal Han area, Wadi Hadharan and the
outskirts of al-Sayahi. At the same time, the group launched a heavy-weapons
assault on the Jawlat al-Qasr front east of the city, it said.An operational
statement issued by the Yemeni armed forces’ media center said troops had
thwarted a Houthi flanking attack near the al-Hangar checkpoint at the city’s
western entrance. It said artillery destroyed three armored vehicles and two
ammunition supply vehicles. In a separate statement, the Fifth Presidential
Guard Brigade said army units carried out a swift flanking operation west of
Taiz, capturing five Houthi security officials. Footage released by military
media showed the capture of intelligence official Mohammed Saeed al-Junaid,
director of a branch of what the Houthis call their “Preventive Security”
service in the al-Hawban area east of the city. Also captured was Akram Amer,
director-general of the anti-narcotics department at the Interior Ministry run
by the internationally unrecognized Houthi government. After government forces
said they had captured five Houthi officials and the Fifth Presidential Guard
Brigade released video of the detainees, Abdulqader al-Murtada, head of the
Houthi prisoners’ committee, acknowledged that those detained were Interior
Ministry employees. He said they had gone to Taiz to arrange and secure the
central prison after taking control of it but lost their way because of
overlapping front lines. Fierce clashes are also continuing around the strategic
Jabal Han area west of Taiz, where government forces said they had repelled
repeated Houthi attacks over the previous 24 hours despite the mountain being
hit by hundreds of shells. Jabal Han overlooks the Hadharan and al-Rubaie areas,
as well as the road linking Taiz with the interim capital Aden and the road to
Hodeidah, making it a key point for supply lines. Residential neighborhoods in
Taiz city have meanwhile come under heavy Houthi shelling, increasing the risks
facing tens of thousands of civilians. Humanitarian concerns are mounting as the
siege of the city continues alongside severe shortages of basic and medical
supplies. The Information and Training Center for Human Rights documented the
killing and wounding of five civilians, including two children, after three
Houthi mortar shells struck homes in the village of Aad in Sabir al-Mawadim
district. The shelling also caused extensive damage to 11 homes, which were
partially destroyed. In al-Wazi'iyah district, one civilian was killed and
another wounded after being run over by a Houthi military vehicle. Separately, a
woman was killed and three of her female relatives were wounded when a Houthi
landmine exploded in Wadi Usus in al-Shamayatayn district in the south of the
province.
Fighting spreads beyond Taiz
In Marib, the media center of the Third Military Region said army artillery,
backed by drones, struck Houthi fortifications on the northwestern axis, helping
government forces advance on high ground overlooking the strategic Mas military
camp in Madghal district. An operational report said a Houthi military convoy
carrying combat vehicles was destroyed on the al-Kasara, al-Zour and southern
Harib fronts. Video released by the Yemeni army also showed warplanes striking
Houthi barracks and fortifications in the area of responsibility of the Seventh
Military Region in Marib. In al-Jawf province, platforms affiliated with Yemen’s
Defense Ministry said air strikes hit a military barracks and a gathering point
for Houthi vehicles east of al-Hazm, the provincial capital. The strikes paved
the way for government forces to advance toward the outskirts of the city, they
said. In Lahj province, military media for the Nation’s Shield Forces, together
with the Southern Giants Brigades, said they had detected heavy Houthi military
movements and reinforcements in the al-Aghbara and al-Mansoura areas and on the
al-Mudaraba front. According to the statement, the forces responded with direct
preemptive artillery strikes aimed at preventing any breach that could threaten
the strategic coastal route leading to the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Separately, the
Southern Giants Brigades rejected as false a video released by the Houthis
claiming the group had fought its forces in Bab al-Mandab, seized military
positions, destroyed and captured vehicles and taken members of the force
prisoner. The brigades said the footage was fabricated and that their forces
remained in position and in full control of the situation in the Bab al-Mandab
area.
Al-Maliki Warns Houthis to Read Coalition Statement Carefully
Riyadh: Abdulhadi Habtor/Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Arab Coalition to Support
Legitimacy in Yemen, warned the Houthis against targeting civilians and civilian
facilities in Saudi Arabia, saying coalition forces were fully capable of
confronting missiles, drones and cruise missiles. Speaking at a news conference
in Riyadh on Thursday evening, al-Maliki urged the Houthis to halt attacks on
civilians and civilian infrastructure in the kingdom. “The terrorist Houthi
millitias must stop their attacks on civilians in Saudi Arabia, and they should
carefully read the coalition’s statement — and between the lines,” he said. Al-Maliki
said the Houthis had obtained advanced technology with the help of regional
parties, enabling them to acquire ballistic missiles, attack and suicide drones
and explosive-laden fast boats. He said the development placed responsibility on
the international community to prevent terrorist groups from gaining access to
advanced weapons and technology. “The leadership of the coalition’s joint forces
affirms that its operations will continue to deter the terrorist Houthi
millitias from attempting to target civilians and civilian facilities in Saudi
Arabia and from threatening freedom of navigation in the southern Red Sea and
the Bab al-Mandab Strait,” he said. Al-Maliki also reaffirmed support for
Yemen’s internationally recognized government and armed forces “on all fronts,”
along with round-the-clock air support for units on the ground.
19 killed, 364 injured
Al-Maliki said Houthi attacks on airports in the kingdom had killed 19 people
and injured 364, adding that 1,104 missiles and 1,135 drones had been launched
since operations began. He said Houthi attempts to target Islam’s two holiest
mosques reflected a systematic hostile approach and amounted to a “heinous act”
aimed at pilgrims and visitors. According to al-Maliki, Houthi violations since
the 2022 truce included about 175 ballistic missiles, 330 drones, 2,229
projectiles launched from drones and 28,121 unidentified projectiles. He
stressed that Saudi Arabia had the intelligence capabilities to identify targets
and confront threats. “We have the capability to deal with these missiles,
drones and cruise missiles,” he said. During the news conference, al-Maliki
showed footage of coalition aircraft striking ballistic missile launchers,
weapons depots and facilities he said the Houthis used to support military
operations. He said coalition forces had also neutralized an imminent ballistic
missile attack on the kingdom.
Attacks threaten passenger safety
Al-Maliki condemned Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian facilities in Saudi
Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, noting that
thousands of passengers and civilians use such facilities every day. He also
pointed to attempted attacks on airports, ports and oil facilities in the
kingdom. Al-Maliki said Houthi attacks on civilians were a flagrant violation of
international norms, adding that attacks on airports “undermine the kingdom’s
security, threaten international air traffic and endanger the lives of
passengers of various nationalities.”He said the coalition had destroyed 127
storage facilities in mountainous areas and a launch platform in Yemen. Al-Maliki
said the Houthis had built mountain storage facilities concentrated in Sanaa,
Saada and Amran, from which attacks were launched against Yemen and neighboring
countries. “The leadership of the coalition’s joint forces is working to
dismantle this network and eliminate the experts and operators behind these
capabilities by destroying mountain storage facilities and fixed and mobile
launch platforms, based on an intelligence system operating around the clock,”
he said.
Saudi defense systems on high alert
Al-Maliki said the Saudi armed forces had advanced, highly combat-ready systems,
including air defenses capable of intercepting threats and thwarting attempted
attacks. He said the systems were designed to protect the kingdom’s sovereignty,
security, strategic assets and holy sites, as well as citizens and residents.
“We have the capability to identify the locations used by the Houthi militias,
and we are working to dismantle the terrorist network and eliminate the experts
involved,” he said. Al-Maliki again stressed the coalition’s strict commitment
to international humanitarian law, saying it had taken all feasible precautions
to avoid civilian casualties or damage while planning operations to neutralize
Houthi capabilities used in attacks.
War in the Heart of Hebron: 500 Settlers Share Daily Life with Thousands of
Palestinians
Old City of Hebron: Kefah Zaboun/15 October 2026
Before reaching the city of Hebron, about 35 kilometers south of Jerusalem in
the West Bank, travelers on the fast bypass road known as Route 60 encounter
numerous road signs directing people of different nationalities, religions and
denominations to their destinations. Written in Hebrew, English and Arabic, the
signs point to Palestinian and Israeli destinations, and sometimes places
farther afield: Karmei Tzur, Halhul, Beit Ummar, Kiryat Gat, Al-Arroub refugee
camp, Kiryat Arba, the Ibrahimi Mosque and others.
No Entry
Shortly before the city's main entrance, a large sign warns Israelis against
entering Area A, which is designated off-limits and "dangerous" to them. Yet the
warning ignores the fact that 500 settlers live within it, occupying the heart
of the West Bank's largest city, its Old City, where they share streets, houses,
shops, squares, balcony views and the Ibrahimi Mosque with Palestinian
residents. Every day, the settlers attempt to drive out their neighbors in a
long and exhausting struggle that has become considerably more intense since
October 7, 2023. At the beginning of Shuhada Street, near the bustling Bab al-Zawiya
district, known for its crowds and commercial activity, Israeli soldiers stand
on alert. Their mission is to prevent Palestinians from entering the area,
except for the few who still live in its old, dilapidated and surrounded houses
and have refused to leave. Even these residents face thorough searches every day
as they enter and leave, treated as perpetual suspects.
Before and After October 7
Before October 7, we had entered the street after receiving permission from the
soldiers. But just 100 meters farther along, a soldier stopped us and said we
could go no farther because of our "Arab appearance," claiming he could not
guarantee our safety.
Today, entry is prohibited from the very first meter. We entered the Old City
through other routes that remained open, only to find that many of its streets
had been closed. We could not reach several areas, including Al-Sahla Street
behind the Ibrahimi Mosque, which, like Shuhada Street, had been closed to all
Palestinians except the few "troublesome" residents who still lived there. Islam
al-Fakhouri came out to meet us in streets that were not closed off, including
the once-busy Laban Market, which stood deserted. Shops were shuttered, with no
merchants, residents or shoppers in sight. The market is part of a network of
interconnected streets in the Old City. Al-Fakhouri told Asharq Al-Awsat that he
prefers to leave his home only once a day before returning for the last time, to
avoid the numerous humiliating and difficult procedures. "They treat us as
suspects all the time. Your name has to be on a special list, and you undergo a
search when you leave and when you return. They check your identity documents
before allowing you through," he explained. Al-Fakhouri is among the few
Palestinians who have remained in their homes on Al-Sahla Street, near the
Ibrahimi Mosque, which lies at the center of the conflict for both Palestinians
and Israelis.
He said he stayed because he could not accept the idea of abandoning his home
and because he "does not want to leave it to them." "If I leave the house, they
will immediately take it over. That is exactly what they want. Everything
happening here is designed to force us out of our homes. Why does the army make
our lives so difficult? Why all these restrictions? Why do settlers attack us?
Because they want the entire place," he said. Al-Fakhouri described how he and
other residents had repeatedly been subjected to attacks and assaults, but
insisted that he would not give up. "I'm not leaving, and I'm not giving up my
home," he said. His determination did not waver after October 7, even as the
struggle to remain became more difficult and costly. Since that date, settlers
across the West Bank have intensified their hostile actions, carrying out deadly
attacks across large areas, killing Palestinians, burning their homes,
properties and places of worship, destroying crops, and seizing land, houses,
hilltops and even livestock.
"After October 7, every settler became a government unto himself," Al-Fakhouri
said.
"We used to move around more freely, and there was less friction. But after
October 7, everything changed. They closed the gates and increased the
checkpoints. Every movement here is now restricted. On top of that, we face
constant attacks and assaults without any accountability or oversight. They
attack homes and assault us in the streets. Every day there is a problem. Every
single day." Al-Fakhouri's account helps explain why large parts of the Old City
have lost their residents and why so many shops remain closed.
A Battle That Began in 1978
The closures did not begin after October 7. They date back much further. The
settlers' struggle is decades old, although it has intensified significantly
since that date. According to the Palestinian National Information Center, the
first settlement outposts inside the Old City were established in 1978, when a
group of settlers occupied the Al-Dabouya building in the city center. They
later renamed it Beit Hadassah. Following the well-known 1980 Al-Dabouya attack,
Israeli authorities demolished dozens of homes to expand the strategically
located settlement outpost. In 1983, another outpost, known as Beit Romano, was
established near the Al-Dabouya building after settlers took control of the
Osama ibn Munqidh School, claiming it was Jewish property. In 1984, a new
settlement outpost, Avraham Avinu, was established on an archaeological site in
Tel Rumeida. Israeli authorities also closed the Old City's central vegetable
market, which was later handed over to settlers to establish another outpost.
Other outposts included Beit Chason and Beit Schneerson. The Palestinian
National Information Center said Israel was seeking to take control of the area
and expand the settlement outposts. To achieve this, it said, Israeli
authorities had adopted discriminatory policies against Arab residents,
installing dozens of barriers and checkpoints and completely closing certain
streets and markets in an effort to pressure residents into leaving. The center
estimated that approximately 1,829 commercial establishments had closed,
including 520 shut by specific military orders. The remainder were closed by
their owners because roads had been blocked and barriers and checkpoints
installed throughout the narrow streets. Residents of the Old City whom we met
briefly said the struggle with settlers was longstanding but had intensified
during two pivotal periods: after the Second Intifada in 2000 and following
October 7, 2023. To date, most of the Old City's 40,000 residents have left.
The Ibrahimi Mosque, Just a Stone's Throw Away
The Ibrahimi Mosque, which Palestinians describe as the oldest sacred site in
the world, was just a stone's throw away. As we approached, signs of life began
to emerge. A handful of shops were open, with artisans and craftspeople
displaying jewelry, pottery, wood carvings, maps of Palestine, embroidered
items, decorated mugs, incense and Turkish delight produced in an exceptionally
old factory, one that predates the occupation itself. One shop window featured a
portrait of the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish painted on a piece of
mother-of-pearl, accompanied by his famous words: "On this earth, there is what
makes life worth living."Beside it was a portrait of the Lebanese singer Fairuz,
with the lyrics "I belong to my beloved, and my beloved belongs to me." Other
pieces of pottery seemed almost disconnected from the present moment. But across
from the Ibrahimi Mosque, an armed Israeli soldier stood alert behind security
gates, monitoring those who wished to pray and allowing them through only when a
green light appeared. We passed through turnstiles, which Palestinians
sarcastically call "the wringers," and then electronic security gates. A soldier
checked each person's identification before we proceeded to security booths
under surveillance cameras and the watch of armed guards. There, a female
soldier inspected our identification documents once again before permitting us
to enter the mosque. The few steps felt more like crossing an international
border or entering a defense ministry headquarters than approaching a mosque for
prayer. The site, deeply sacred to Muslims, retained its solemn atmosphere, but
only a few worshippers were present. Some visitors were entering for the first
time in their lives. They examined the tombs of the prophets with astonishment,
discovering ancient corners of the building under the watchful eyes of Israeli
cameras. Cameras were everywhere. Wherever you turned, another camera recorded
every movement and every word. Palestinians wait at an Israeli checkpoint as
they head for prayer at the Ibrahimi Mosque, also known as the Cave of
Patriarchs, in the old city of Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June
17, 2026. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Mosque Director: They Instill Fear in Us
Sheikh Mutaz Abu Sneineh, director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, was reluctant to give
us a tour, even without cameras or filming, for fear that Israeli forces might
use it as a pretext to enter the site. We had, of course, arrived without
cameras or microphones, since bringing such equipment would have meant hours of
questioning and waiting for approvals that might never come. Israeli authorities
had expanded the mosque's surveillance system to cover every corner with audio
and video recording. They had also compelled the mosque administration to
install designated pathways over the carpets so soldiers could enter the mosque
quickly at any time. "You can see for yourself. Anyone entering here feels as
though they are entering a military barracks, under surveillance," Abu Sneineh
told Asharq Al-Awsat. "Checkpoints, gates, thorough inspections, searches and
identity checks. These are daily procedures imposed on everyone entering the
Ibrahimi Mosque, and people are sometimes subjected to humiliation and degrading
treatment. That includes the mosque's custodians, employees and administration.
Everyone who enters this place is under intense audio and video
surveillance."For the mosque director, these measures are part of a broader
policy intended to impose a new reality, empty the mosque of worshippers and
turn it into a place for Jews. The mosque was indeed largely empty, and Abu
Sneineh confirmed that conditions had changed dramatically since October 7, to
the point that Palestinians under the age of 25 were now completely prohibited
from entering. "They instill fear and terror in those who come here," he said.
Division by Time and Space
Another section of the mosque remained entirely off-limits to us, much like
parts of the Old City.
Following the 1994 Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, in which Baruch Goldstein, an
Israeli army doctor and settler, killed 29 Muslim worshippers, Israel took
control of 63 percent of the mosque and designated it exclusively for Jewish
use. Goldstein was an activist in the extremist Kach movement, founded by Meir
Kahane. "Sixty-three percent has been off-limits to Muslims ever since," Abu
Sneineh said. Behind a separating door, Jewish religious prayers and noisy
celebrations take place, accompanied by the blowing of the shofar. Muslims are
allowed into that section on only ten days each year, including Fridays during
Ramadan, Laylat al-Qadr, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, the Prophet Muhammad's
birthday, the anniversary of the Hijra and the commemoration of Isra and Mi'raj.
Conversely, Muslims are entirely barred from the mosque for ten days associated
with Jewish religious holidays. This arrangement is known as the division of the
site by time and space, a model Palestinians fear could also be imposed at Al-Aqsa.
Mosque in Jerusalem. The muezzin rose to lead the call to prayer before the
small congregation, having previously been prevented from reaching his room,
which is located in the section controlled by Israeli authorities. He had also
been prohibited from broadcasting the call to prayer through loudspeakers
outside the mosque. Previously, the muezzin had to wait for Israeli soldiers to
arrive and escort him to his room. After issuing the call to prayer, he would
leave under their escort, completing a short journey fraught with danger. Even
this arrangement does not apply to every prayer. He is barred from reaching the
room during specified periods on Saturdays and Fridays and at certain hours of
the night.
Shared Tombs and a Battle Over Historical Narratives
The tombs of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac and Joseph were among the most visited places
and popular spots for commemorative photographs. Jews regard these tombs as
evidence that the site belongs to them as well. The conflict here is therefore
not only about occupation, but also about competing historical and religious
narratives and the identities they represent. "They are trying to erase our
narrative and identity," Abu Sneineh said. "They say this place is theirs. We
say it is an exclusively Islamic site. They believe they are descended from
Abraham and claim that, as descendants of his son, they have a right to this
place. But we have a greater claim to the prophets. Abraham was not Jewish." The
mosque director's account reflects the Palestinian and Muslim narrative, but it
is not accepted in Israel. Israelis also revere the Ibrahimi Mosque, which they
call the Cave of the Patriarchs, or the Cave of Machpelah, because it contains
the burial place of the Prophet Abraham and his wife Sarah in a cave beneath the
present building.
Smotrich Declares Mosque 'Sovereign Property'
Shortly after our visit, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich
visited the Ibrahimi Mosque and declared it the "first sovereign property of the
Jewish people."At the site, where he had come to inaugurate the roofed areas
previously mentioned by Abu Sneineh, Smotrich asserted that the mosque would
forever remain a symbol of Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. Israel's
Channel 14 reported that Smotrich, who presided over an event marking the
completion of extensive roofing and restoration work at the site, was taking a
historic step following his earlier decision to terminate the Hebron agreements
and withdraw the Palestinian municipality's relevant powers in Hebron's Old
City. Smotrich had announced last June the cancellation of the Hebron Agreement
governing the city, which he calls the land of the patriarchs. Speaking at a
ceremony inaugurating the new Doron settlement in the Hebron Hills at the time,
he said: "We have canceled the Hebron agreements. For many years, one of the
most absurd provisions of Oslo remained in effect, under which authority over
Jewish settlements in Hebron and the holy sites was granted to the Hebron
municipality." The decision announced by Smotrich, following its approval by the
Higher Planning Council of the Israeli military's Civil Administration, stripped
the Hebron municipality of its planning and construction powers in Area H2,
which includes the Old City.
Hebron Turns the Page on Oslo
Hebron is the only Palestinian city in the West Bank to have been subject to a
special agreement in 1997 that divided it into two areas, H1 and H2. Known as
the Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron, the arrangement followed the
1995 Oslo II Accord and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process launched under the
Oslo Accords in 1993. Under the Hebron agreement, Israel withdrew its forces
from Area H1, which accounts for approximately 80 percent of the city, and the
Palestinian Authority assumed responsibility for security and civilian affairs
there. In return, Israel retained security control over Area H2, comprising the
remaining 20 percent of the city, including the Old City, the Ibrahimi Mosque
and the Jewish settlement in Hebron, while civilian powers were transferred to
the Palestinian Authority."This is much more than a planning measure. It is a
historic correction," Smotrich said. "We are continuing the settlement
revolution, strengthening governance and deepening Israeli sovereignty in Judea
and Samaria," he added, using the Israeli term for the West Bank. According to
Smotrich, the measure applies to all religious and historical sites in Hebron.
In effect, the move marked the end of the Oslo era in the Old City, at the heart
of Hebron. Palestinians rejected the decision. The Palestinian presidency warned
of its dangers, saying it undermined Hebron's political and legal status and the
bilateral agreements signed concerning the city. Hebron's municipality also
rejected the move and said it would not accept it. On the ground, however, a
different reality has emerged. Israel now exercises greater control over
virtually everything in central Hebron, including the Ibrahimi Mosque. Just one
day after Smotrich announced the "cancellation of the Hebron agreements," a
major construction project for a Jewish religious school near the mosque was
approved. Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that the project had been
approved without requiring authorization from the Palestinian municipality, for
the first time in decades. Speaking at the Ibrahimi Mosque during a celebration
marking the roofing work, Smotrich said: "The Cave of Machpelah, the Ibrahimi
Mosque, is the first sovereign property of the people of Israel. The place
purchased by our forefather Abraham has become a symbol of our sovereignty over
this land."
Visits to Preserve Historical Memory
But not everything can be imposed by force. Outside the main prayer hall, a
group of schoolchildren was visiting the mosque as their teachers explained its
history, religious significance and the massacre that took place there. Teacher
Sharifa Dweik told Asharq Al-Awsat that she had decided to take the risk of
bringing the children to the mosque after realizing they knew almost nothing
about it. The children were excited, as though embarking on an adventure. They
eagerly described how they had passed the soldiers without being searched and
said they would return. Dweik said it was essential for the children to visit a
place that, in her view, Jews wanted every Palestinian to forget. Hajj Abdulaziz
Abu Haltam said he had traveled from the distant town of Tarqumiya to visit the
mosque and the Old City. "I don't come often because of the risks and the long
hours of waiting. But I decided to take the chance, and I really did spend a
long and exhausting time waiting before reaching the mosque," he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Jewish visitors face none of these difficulties. Instead, they arrive
accompanied by extensive security protection in what is presented as an effort
to emphasize the site's Jewish identity. Approximately 1,500 Israeli soldiers
guard the 500 settlers living in central Hebron. Israeli flags also surround the
walls of the Ibrahimi Mosque, another attempt to reinforce the Israeli narrative
through visual symbols wherever possible.
Many of these flags can also be seen throughout large parts of the city's Arab
neighborhoods.
Neighbors and Enemies
From a vantage point overlooking an area not far from the mosque, the extent to
which the two communities occupy the same spaces in large parts of the Old City
was striking. Jewish settlers live above shops that once belonged to Arabs,
while only walls separate their homes from those of Palestinians. Before October
7, when Palestinians were still able to open their shops, shopkeepers had been
forced to install wire mesh above the street to protect themselves from objects
thrown down by settlers living overhead. Today, all those shops have closed.
While settlers in Beit Avraham, Beit Hadassah, Beit Romano and Tel Rumeida enjoy
extensive protection, many Palestinians have been killed in the area over
previous years on allegations that they had stabbed, or intended to stab,
soldiers and settlers. Despite this, Mahmoud Mahamra has refused to leave his
home, behind which a tightly secured wooden gate has been installed to separate
it from Shuhada Street.Israeli authorities wanted to prevent any possible
contact. That gate was part of a wider network of barriers closing off Old City
streets, alongside checkpoints and security cameras. Mahamra, who describes
himself as the closest Palestinian neighbor to the settlers in his area, said he
lives in constant anxiety, which has turned into a nightmare since October 7.
"They always used to harass us, but after October 7, life became unbearable," he
told Asharq Al-Awsat. He recalled a period of relative prosperity before the
Second Intifada, although it did not last long. "We used to live alongside one
another. There was life here. But not anymore," he said. Standing on the roof of
his home, Mahamra looked out over neighborhoods that had once been entirely Arab
and were now entirely Jewish. Settlers take over homes and raise Israeli flags
above them. Yet Mahamra has no intention of leaving. "I'm not leaving this
place," he said. "We are not leaving" has become a slogan embraced by
Palestinians across the West Bank. But not everyone is able to live up to it, as
they face what the article describes as the most extreme Israeli government and
the most violent settlers in the history of the conflict.
The Israeli government is now working to implement what is known as the Decisive
Plan, which is based on the premise that the territory between the Jordan River
and the Mediterranean Sea has room for only one legitimate national claim: the
Zionist claim to full Jewish sovereignty.
Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem has accused Israel of implementing a
series of simultaneous policies in the West Bank as part of a broader project
aimed at erasing Palestinians as a people. All of this is unfolding today in
Hebron's Old City. For Israel, Hebron may represent a rehearsal for what could
happen across the rest of the West Bank. We left the mosque and the Old City,
passing one of the oldest shops, where a large map of Palestine was displayed.
Inscribed on it were Mahmoud Darwish's familiar words: "She used to be called
Palestine. And she is still called Palestine."
Ali Kayali, Main Suspect in 2013 Baniyas Massacre, Arrested
Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
Syria's General Intelligence Service has arrested Ali Kayali, also known as
Mihrac Ural, the main suspect in the 2013 Baniyas massacre, as he attempted to
flee across the border, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The
agency did not specify where he was arrested or which country he was attempting
to enter. Syrian sources say he had been spotted crossing the border into
Lebanon several times. However, according to Lebanon's MTV television, the
Syrian-Turkish national known as Ali Kayali, or Mihrac Ural, and nicknamed the
"Butcher of Baniyas" in Syria, was the same person reportedly abducted from his
home in Mansourieh, in Lebanon's Metn district, after his wife and son were tied
up. Asharq Al-Awsat could not independently verify the accuracy of the report.
Who Is Mihrac Ural?
Mihrac Ural was born in 1956 in Türkiye's Hatay province, formerly known as the
Sanjak of Alexandretta. He joined a far-left extremist party and was imprisoned
several times in Türkiye before fleeing to Syria in the early 1980s. There, he
received special privileges, including Syrian citizenship, which was granted to
him by then-President Hafez al-Assad. Ural later adopted the Syrian name Ali
Kayali and led an armed group known as the Syrian Resistance, which fought
alongside forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad throughout the Syrian war. The group
has been linked to the massacres in al-Bayda and Baniyas and participated
alongside Assad's forces in suppressing the Syrian uprising. Ural's name has
also been associated with the 2012 Houla massacre and the bombings in Reyhanli,
Türkiye. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), the al-Bayda
massacre claimed the lives of 264 civilians, including 36 children and 28 women.
The Ras al-Nabaa massacre killed another 195 civilians, including 56 children
and 43 women. Testimonies and reports documenting the two massacres described
bodies scattered across streets, shops and even basements, as well as summary
executions carried out with firearms and bladed weapons. Homes and bodies were
also reportedly burned. Militias affiliated with Kayali were also accused of
carrying out massacres against Syrians in the countryside of Latakia, Aleppo and
Idlib, leaving hundreds dead and wounded. Human Rights Watch, in a report
published in September 2013, documented the execution of at least 248 people,
including 167 in al-Bayda and 81 in Baniyas, warning that the actual death toll
could be higher. Based on survivor testimonies and video evidence, the
organization concluded that the vast majority of the victims had been killed
after fighting had ended and opposition fighters had withdrawn from the two
areas. Following news of Kayali's arrest, chants of "Allahu Akbar" rang out from
mosques in al-Bayda, a town near Baniyas in Syria's western Tartus province, on
Thursday. Videos circulating online showed mosques broadcasting the chants,
which those sharing the footage said were in celebration of Ural's reported
arrest, nearly 13 years after the massacre. Marking the occasion, Fadel Abdul
Ghany, executive director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, wrote on X on
Thursday: "On May 10, 2013, we published our report documenting the killing of
459 civilians, including 92 children and 71 women. We named Ali Kayali in the
report, based on testimonies from residents who identified him as one of the
leaders of the massacre."He described the killings as a massacre with a
sectarian character, recalling the painstaking work of documenting the names of
children, women and men, families that had lost several members or had been
wiped out entirely, and survivors whose testimonies remained unforgettable.
"More than 13 years later, I feel how important it is that this case has finally
reached a stage where one of its most prominent suspects can be investigated.
Today, I am thinking especially of the victims' families, who have waited all
these years," he added. Ahmad Muwaffaq Zaidan, media adviser to the Syrian
presidency, also welcomed the arrest in a post on X. "We congratulate our people
on the arrest by Syrian intelligence, in cooperation with the Interior Ministry,
of the criminal Mihrac Ural, known as Ali Kayali, who carried out massacres
against our people during the Syrian revolution, including the al-Bayda massacre
in Baniyas," he wrote. He vowed that those responsible for killings would be
pursued regardless of how much time had passed, stressing that perpetrators
would not escape Syria's security agencies. Syrian authorities had previously
announced on October 4 the arrest of Jamal Trabulsi, whom they identified as
Ural's deputy, on suspicion of involvement in the same massacre. Syrian
authorities are pursuing individuals implicated in abuses against civilians
during Assad's rule as part of their stated efforts to achieve transitional
justice and hold those responsible for crimes accountable. On December 8, 2024,
Syrian rebels entered Damascus and announced the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's
regime, ending the rule he had inherited from his father, Hafez al-Assad.
CENTCOM Tests Advanced Drone Capabilities in the Middle East
Riyadh: Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that Task Force 99, part of
US Air Forces Central, introduced new drone and communication capabilities to
warfighters in the Middle East. “As a forward-deployed laboratory, the task
force tests innovative concepts for enhancing combat effectiveness in the
field,” the Command wrote in a post on X. Late on Tuesday, CENTCOM had dismissed
claims by Ali Azmayi, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy,
that Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz. “[The] IRGC’s navy commander has no
navy. American forces and regional partners clearly control the Strait of
Hormuz,” the Command said, adding that US forces helped shipping partners move
19 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway.
Development of ‘Ballistic’
In Tehran, Iran’s defense minister nominee, Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, outlined
his plan for the ministry, prioritizing the upgrade of missile systems,
expanding air defense production, and improving warhead effectiveness to meet
current and future needs. During a parliamentary session reviewing his plans for
becoming defense minister, Akhlaghi Ketabchi said his priorities include
“significantly and unexpectedly increasing the salaries of armed forces
personnel.”He also said: “We will work to accelerate the acquisition of
technology for manufacturing heavy, multirole fighter jets, a project the
ministry launched previously.”Referring to ground combat, the nominee for the
Defense post said that if he secures the confidence of deputies, his plan
includes “developing the technology for designing and manufacturing artillery
systems, missiles, and guided and smart mortar shells; modernizing production
lines for advanced small arms; and developing and upgrading various anti-armor
systems.”Akhlaghi Ketabchi has been heavily involved in Iran's missiles programs
and has previously served as head of the Aerospace Industries Organization,
among other positions. In 2007, he was designated by the UN Security Council in
connection with his role as the head of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG)—an
entity subordinate to Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), involved
in the development and production of Iran's solid-propellant ballistic missiles.
His nomination depicts the pivotal role played by the Aerospace Industries
Organization within Iran’s Defense Ministry.
With Anger Spreading over Iran War, Democrats Hope to
Flip Republican Seats with Veterans' Help
Asharq Al Awsat/15 October 2026
The doorbell chimed “The Star Spangled Banner” as retired Col. Lou Christensen
stepped inside the large house on the northeastern edge of Colorado Springs. The
registered Republican and 28-year Air Force veteran was doing something he never
expected to do — attending a party for a Democratic congressional candidate.
“The legislative branch needs to put up guardrails from President Trump,” said
Christensen, 70. “We need another branch of government that stands up and says,
‘Uh, boss, that’s not constitutional.'”Christensen is backing Jessica Killin, a
fellow veteran, over first-term Republican Rep. Jeff Crank in Colorado's 5th
Congressional District, a conservative stronghold that includes five military
facilities. The district is a longshot for Democrats but they're investing money
here for the first time in years, counting on an unpopular war with Iran and
upheaval in the armed forces to put more seats in play as the party pushes for
control of the US House of Representatives. Democratic candidates who previously
served in the military are also running in Florida, South Carolina and Virginia
districts with significant veteran populations. Although veterans hold all sorts
of political beliefs, the population overall leans right — nearly 6 in 10 voted
for Trump two years ago, according to AP VoteCast. Trump won Colorado's 5th by 9
percentage points that year, and nearly one out of every nine people there is a
veteran, according to federal statistics, making it one of the most
veteran-heavy seats in the country. The district is home to NORAD, Fort Carson
and the Air Force Academy. “I know there's a bunch of veterans in the room, so I
don't have to tell you where we are with foreign policy,” Killin told more than
two dozen voters who gathered on a recent Friday evening. “For the first time in
history, now the global community thinks more of China than of the United
States.”
Iran war, Hegseth unsettle some veterans
One of the only comparable seats in terms of veteran population is in Virginia’s
2nd Congressional District, centered in Virginia Beach and similarly dotted with
military bases, with the massive Naval Station Norfolk just outside its
boundaries. Unlike Colorado's 5th, elections in Virginia's 2nd have zig-zagged
back and forth over the last decade. Democrat Elaine Luria, a retired Naval
Commander who deployed to the Middle East and Western Pacific and led a unit of
400 sailors over the course of her military career, ousted a Republican
incumbent in 2018. She held the seat for two terms before Republican Jen Kiggans,
a former Navy helicopter pilot, defeated her in 2022. Now Luria is back for a
rematch, hammering Kiggans and Trump for the Iran war that she called “an
expanding economic crisis” as well as a geopolitical blunder. In an interview,
she criticized Kiggans for voting against resolutions intended to halt military
action without congressional approval. Kiggans, whose 10 years of service
included two deployments to the Arabian Gulf, said she hopes the war can soon be
brought to a close. But she argued that Luria, through her criticism, has
“chosen the side of Iran.” “It’s like the Democrats are now siding with the
Iranians and not standing with our military,” she said in an interview. Paul
Krekorian, a Navy veteran and retired grade school teacher in Virginia Beach,
said he worries the war may become a “quagmire” for Trump. But he still decided
to support Kiggans because Democrats “have gone socialist.”Still, plenty of
veterans were casting early ballots for Luria, citing their frustration at Trump
and his administration. “I think we are less safe, not just because of the war
in Iran, but because of the leadership or the lack of leadership we have," said
Phyllis Mihalas, a self-described independent and retired Army lieutenant
colonel. She described Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as "an enormously
incompetent man whose ego consistently gets in the way.”
Democrats bet on veteran candidates
Democratic veterans are trying to make that argument in other races for
Republican-held seats. In South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, Democrat
Nancy Lacore, a former Navy vice admiral, is running against Republican lawyer
Jennifer Honeycutt. Lacore was fired by Hegseth last year. In Florida's 13th
Congressional District, retired Army Brigadier Gen. Leela Gray is challenging
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. And in Florida's 7th Congressional District,
Bale Dalton, a former Navy Aviator and NASA chief of staff, is running against
Ryan Elijah, a Republican and local news anchor. In Colorado Springs, the
Republican incumbent, Crank, is in his first term in Congress. Though his father
and father-in-law are veterans and his son-in-law is currently in the Army,
Crank has never been in the military. A onetime aide to a longtime congressman
representing the area, Crank ran the Colorado chapter of the conservative group
Americans For Prosperity and then served as Colorado chairman of former South
Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's bid for the Republican presidential nomination in
2024. He ran for the open congressional seat against a Trump-backed candidate
and won the Republican primary, sparking some suspicion among Trump supporters
about whether he'd be a team player for the president. Now Killin's campaign is
airing an ad slamming Crank for voting with Trump “100% of the time.”In an
interview, Crank scoffed at the charge but said it wasn't his style to pick
public fights with Trump. “I'm going to try to check the president where I think
he's wrong,” Crank said, such as Trump moving US Space Command from Colorado to
Alabama. 'Don't let it be for nothing' Crank said that one of the first
casualties from the Iran war was stationed at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs,
and it fell to him to call the fallen soldier's father. “He basically said to
me, 'Don't let it be for nothing,'” Crank said. He added: “We're reluctant to
go, but once we're there, let's get the job done and go home. And I think that's
how people in my district feel.”Mike Gould, a retired lieutenant general who
once ran the Air Force Academy, agreed. “What our president did, taking on Iran
the way he did, was exactly the right thing to do,” said Gould, who supports
Crank. Killin grew up in Colorado Springs and quips that she was the lone
Democrat in her elementary school class. She joined the Army in the late 1990s
and rose to captain, serving in the Balkan war before joining USAA, the company
that provides insurance and banking services to members of the military and
veterans. At the house party, Killin said she was worried about what Trump had
done to the country — and that Crank wasn't trying to stop it. “I grew up in an
era where the Department of Defense was apolitical and the Department of Justice
was apolitical,” Killin said. It was a theme that many other veterans sounded
during the gathering, which was held in the home of an Air Force veteran and
former Reagan administration official just a few miles from the Air Force
Academy. One former Army Ranger worried about Hegseth's attempts to infuse the
military with conservative Christian cultural ideas. A newly discharged veteran
worried about how he'll find work. And Michael Stewart, a 75-year-old former
Marine, made a confession about the level of his disgust over the Iran war.
“This is the first time,” Stewart said, “I've wanted to see my country lose.”
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on October 15-16/2026
No Elections, No Reform: The
Palestinian Authority's Endless Excuses Are the Smallest Part of the Problem
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/October 15, 2026
[H]olding elections under the current circumstances will almost certainly
strengthen Hamas....
On the other hand, Abbas's decision cannot be mistaken for a genuine effort to
reform anything in Palestinian politics.
While elections can be important, they can also be bogus, faked, or even
harmful, as one can see in Russia, Turkey or Iran.
Elections do not mean there is a democracy, especially if they take place before
any reforms. Elections are needed after the institutions of democracy -- freedom
of speech and of the press, the separation of powers, freedom of religion or
from religion, due process, equal justice under the law -- meaning
accountability for everyone, property rights, rights for women, children and
laborers, an independent judiciary, and so on -- have been set in place and are
smoothly functioning. Only then can there be elections that mean anything.
What is really needed to help the Palestinian people, now being held hostage by
corrupt and self-serving leaders in all of their parties, is not just elections
but reforms, all of them, and serious international accountability, starting
with shutting down funding for slow or nonexistent compliance.
So far, the international community has been funding leaders who mistreat their
own people first, then their neighbors and everyone else second. For the sake of
the Palestinians, this has to stop.
Will [Western governments] condition financial assistance on measurable
reforms?... Will they impose consequences on Palestinian leaders who obstruct
reform? Or will they issue statements of regret, continue providing financial
support, and wait for Abbas to pretend he is finally instituting reforms by
announcing yet another -- presumably fake -- election date?
Western governments should also avoid the mistaken assumption that an election
announcement, by itself, represents progress.
The test of reform is not the number of "presidential decrees" Abbas issues
promising elections. It is whether Palestinians acquire institutions that can
hold their leaders accountable.
A recent poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
found that 83% of the Palestinians believe corruption exists within Palestinian
Authority institutions.
The poll also showed that Hamas leaders are more popular than Abbas and that 79%
of Palestinians want him to resign.
The Palestinian political system offers no credible, nationally competitive
third alternative to Fatah and Hamas.... Hamas remains an armed terrorist
organization, while Fatah has presided over a system marked by authoritarianism,
patronage, and corruption.
Western governments have too often treated elections as the principal answer to
Palestinian political dysfunction. They are not. Palestinians need new leaders,
new faces, and new political ideas. They need pragmatic, realistic, and
accountable representatives who prioritize the welfare of their own people over
factional interests and revolutionary slogans. They also need an overhaul of an
education system that should prepare young Palestinians for peaceful
coexistence, critical thinking, and economic opportunity rather than perpetuate
hatred and glorify violence. They need independent institutions, financial
transparency, effective anti-corruption mechanisms, and a free press capable of
scrutinizing those in power.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has done it again. On October 10,
he announced that elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC),
originally scheduled for November 2026, will be postponed until September 11,
2027.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has done it again. On October 10,
he announced that elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC),
originally scheduled for November 2026, will be postponed until September 11,
2027. No date had been set for a presidential election.
The decision came as no surprise to Palestinians familiar with Abbas's record.
It was not the first time that the Palestinian leader had announced elections,
raised expectations, and then postponed the vote.
The postponement of the elections presents a contradiction. On one hand, holding
elections under the current circumstances would almost certainly strengthen
Hamas, the Iran-backed Islamist terrorist organization that won the 2006 PLC
elections and violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.
On the other hand, Abbas's decision cannot be mistaken for a genuine effort to
reform anything in Palestinian politics. The Palestinian Authority (PA) leader
has repeatedly postponed elections, remained in office long after his mandate
expired, and presided over a political system without a functioning legislature.
Even if Hamas would benefit from elections, Abbas's indefinite rule is still a
message that he has no intention of instituting reforms of any kind.
The ostensible postponement also does not absolve the Palestinian Authority of
responsibility for creating a political system in which Palestinians lack a
credible, democratic alternative to Fatah and Hamas. In 2021, Abbas cancelled
elections at the last minute, blaming Israel's alleged refusal to allow voting
in Jerusalem. This time, he is again blaming Israel by citing military
operations, settlement expansion, restrictions on movement, and obstacles to
holding PA elections in the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
The latest explanation, however, goes beyond Israel. According to the official
PA news agency WAFA, Abbas's decision also "aims to provide an opportunity for
comprehensive national dialogue to strengthen unity and address challenges
facing the electoral process."
In other words, after more than two decades in power, Abbas still needs more
time to reach agreement with other Palestinian factions, including Hamas.
How much more time does he need?
Abbas's latest maneuver vindicates the concerns raised by some Palestinians.
While elections can be important, they can also be bogus, faked, or even
harmful, as one can see in Russia, Turkey or Iran. Elections do not mean there
is a democracy, especially if they take place before any reforms. Elections are
needed after the institutions of democracy -- freedom of speech and of the
press, the separation of powers, freedom of religion or from religion, due
process, equal justice under the law -- meaning accountability for everyone,
property rights, rights for women, children and laborers, an independent
judiciary, and so on -- have been set in place and are smoothly functioning.
Only then can there be elections that mean anything. What is really needed to
help the Palestinian people, now being held hostage by corrupt and self-serving
leaders in all of their parties, is not just elections but reforms, all of them,
and serious international accountability, starting with shutting down funding
for slow or nonexistent compliance. So far, the international community has been
funding leaders who mistreat their own people first, then their neighbors and
everyone else second. For the sake of the Palestinians, this has to stop.
That warning has become even more relevant. The postponement demonstrates that
announcing elections is easy; allowing Palestinians to exercise a meaningful
choice and hold their leaders accountable is another matter entirely. Abbas's
latest decision is particularly humiliating for Western governments that have
been urging the Palestinian Authority leadership to reform its institutions and
renew its political legitimacy.
On October 13, the foreign ministers of Australia, France, Canada, and Britain
issued a joint statement expressing "deep regret" over the postponement. They
warned that the decision would further erode public confidence in democratic
institutions and called on the PA to reconsider its decision and hold elections
without further delay.
"Credible elections are an important element of the commitment that President
Abbas and the Palestinian Authority made to reform, including democratic renewal
and accountable governance," the ministers of the four countries said in their
statement.
What happens now?
The postponement raises the question: what leverage do these Western governments
intend to use when Abbas ignores their demands? Will they condition financial
assistance to the PA on measurable reforms? Will they demand a credible
timetable, transparent institutions and independent oversight? Will they impose
consequences on Palestinian leaders who obstruct reform? Or will they issue
statements of regret, continue providing financial support, and wait for Abbas
to pretend he is finally instituting reforms by announcing yet another --
presumably fake -- election date?
Western governments should also avoid the mistaken assumption that an election
announcement, by itself, represents progress. The test of reform is not the
number of "presidential decrees" Abbas issues promising elections. It is whether
Palestinians acquire institutions that can hold their leaders accountable. Since
2006, Israel has held nine parliamentary elections, with another expected before
the end of this month. The Palestinians, by contrast, have held no presidential
or parliamentary elections since Abbas was elected president in 2005 and Hamas
won the legislative elections a year later. The contrast is not simply a matter
of competing political calendars. It reflects two profoundly different political
realities. Israelis have repeatedly gone to the ballot box to replace
governments, punish politicians, and resolve political deadlocks. Palestinian
politics, meanwhile, has remained trapped in a struggle between the faction led
by Abbas, Fatah, and Hamas. This struggle has included violent confrontations,
arbitrary arrests, torture, and political repression. In 2007, Hamas routed
Fatah forces in the Gaza Strip, killed and abused Palestinian rivals, and seized
control of Gaza. Since then, Palestinians have lived under two rival political
authorities: the Palestinian Authority in parts of the West Bank, and Hamas in
the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Legislative Council has not functioned since
2007. Abbas formally dissolved it in 2018, further concentrating legislative and
executive power in his own hands. Abbas, now 91 years old, is still serving long
after the four-year presidential term for which he was elected expired in
January 2005. He is about to enter the 22nd year of his illegitimate presidency
without ever seriously having sought a renewed popular mandate at the ballot
box. Although each time Abbas called off an election, he blamed Israel, the
internal Palestinian political landscape offers another explanation for his
decision.
Abbas and his ruling Fatah faction are deeply unpopular among many Palestinians,
who regard the Palestinian Authority as corrupt, authoritarian, and ineffective.
A recent poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
found that 83% of the Palestinians believe corruption exists within PA
institutions. The poll also showed that Hamas leaders are more popular than
Abbas and that 79% of Palestinians want him to resign.
Additionally, Abbas's Fatah faction is divided by internal rivalries, while his
political opponents have been exploring ways to challenge his continued rule.
Recently, Hamas and supporters of former Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan have
reportedly been involved in efforts to develop an electoral alliance or joint
political framework. Such an arrangement poses a serious challenge to Abbas and
his loyalists. For a leader who has spent years consolidating power, the
prospect of a competitive election is hardly attractive.
There is, however, an important caveat. The postponement does not mean that
holding elections under the current conditions would necessarily have been a
good idea.
The Palestinian political system offers no credible, nationally competitive
third alternative to Fatah and Hamas. Both parties have contributed to political
repression and have obstructed the emergence of independent candidates. Hamas
remains an armed terrorist organization, while Fatah has presided over a system
marked by authoritarianism, patronage, and corruption.
Western governments have too often treated elections as the principal answer to
Palestinian political dysfunction. They are not. Palestinians need new leaders,
new faces, and new political ideas. They need pragmatic, realistic, and
accountable representatives who prioritize the welfare of their own people over
factional interests and revolutionary slogans. They also need an overhaul of an
education system that should prepare young Palestinians for peaceful
coexistence, critical thinking, and economic opportunity rather than perpetuate
hatred and glorify violence. They need independent institutions, financial
transparency, effective anti-corruption mechanisms, and a free press capable of
scrutinizing those in power.
*Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22921/palestinian-authority-election-excuses
*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.
Putin's 'Ceasefire' Trap
Pierre Rehov/Gatestone Institute/October 15, 2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22918/putin-ceasefire-trap
Wars of attrition are won by whoever can keep paying for them, and Vladimir
Putin has spent more than four and a half years betting that Ukraine's Western
partners would tire before Russia's treasury did. In three days, Washington gave
that bet its best return in months. On October 9, President Donald Trump
announced a deal for diesel fuel with the Kremlin. The next day, he suggested
that Ukrainians find themselves a new president.
The Kremlin secured sanctions relief and an open quarrel between Washington and
Kyiv without making a single verifiable commitment.
On October 10, Trump told reporters that Zelensky had "better damn well stop."
He said so during a week in which Russia had carried out more than 200 strikes
on Ukraine's power generation and transmission facilities and 17 more on gas and
oil sites, while its attacks killed more than 150 Ukrainians. It was Russia's
third major attack wave on Ukraine in four days.
A truce confined to refineries would shield Russia's principal vulnerability and
leave Ukraine's electric grid open to further attacks as winter sets in. That
suits Putin, who, according to sources familiar with his thinking, wants no
energy truce before winter and is counting on Ukrainian suffering blackouts in
the winter cold to extract concessions his army has failed to win.
An arrangement that protects Russian revenue while Ukrainians freeze in the dark
would hand the Kremlin a victory dressed up as American diplomacy.
On October 11, Zelensky offered to hold elections if Russia accepted a 60-day
ceasefire, thereby shifting the burden of proof onto Moscow. Moscow answered
within a day. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the offer, repeating that
Russia does not want a ceasefire...
Turning... against the country being invaded, while Russia faces no comparable
demand -- or apparently any demands whatsoever -- reassures Putin that
prolonging the war buys American restraints on Ukraine and the pathway to a
Russian victory.
Trump claims that Zelensky "could have made many deals." In fact he could not --
at least not any that could assure Ukraine a shred of security, which is all he
has ever asked for. If Russia gets to keep parts of eastern Ukraine, it would
provide a fast track to Kiev, as well as tipping off other predators that
invasions work. To Communist Chinese President Xi Jinping, half of Taiwan
probably looks a lot better than no Taiwan.
Trump prides himself on recognizing a bad deal. This one supplies Putin with
fresh revenue for a war he refuses to end and shields the Russian refineries
that have become his weakest point, while the Ukrainian power grid remains a
target as win ter approaches and Ukraine's skies still remain open. Until Russia
stops striking Ukrainian homes, hospitals, and the electric power grid, every
American concession amounts to an advance payment on a war that only Putin
wants.
A truce confined to refineries would shield Russia's principal vulnerability and
leave Ukraine's electric grid open to further attacks as winter sets in. That
suits Putin, who, according to sources familiar with his thinking, wants no
energy truce before winter and is counting on Ukrainian suffering blackouts in
the winter cold to extract concessions his army has failed to win.
Wars of attrition are won by whoever can keep paying for them, and Vladimir
Putin has spent more than four and a half years betting that Ukraine's Western
partners would tire before Russia's treasury did. In three days, Washington gave
that bet its best return in months.
On October 9, President Donald Trump announced a deal for diesel fuel with the
Kremlin. The next day, he suggested that Ukrainians find themselves a new
president. On October 11, he proclaimed an "ENERGY CEASEFIRE" that Kyiv had not
been told about and that Moscow declined to confirm; within hours, Russian
strikes hit the CHP-5 power plant in Ukraine's Kharkiv.
The Kremlin secured sanctions relief and an open quarrel between Washington and
Kyiv without making a single verifiable commitment.
The real horror in Trump's jackpot to Putin, which will certainly be used toward
further attacks on Ukraine, is that this bonanza will satisfy America's diesel
fuel usage for only nine days.
Russia is to supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel immediately and several
million more over the coming months. The US Treasury Department issued a general
license authorizing the sale and importation of Russian diesel until April 7,
2027; the first diesel waiver since the invasion to run beyond the customary 30
days. It arrived three weeks after Trump signed a sanctions law named for the
late Senator Lindsey Graham, which requires him to impose tariffs of up to 100%
on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas by October 18. Diesel prices hit an
all-time high in September, up 68 percent in a year, and Trump is right to worry
about truckers and farmers weeks before the midterm elections.
Energy analysts doubt that the deal will lower prices for long: the cargoes
would mostly be diverted from other buyers. The deal will, however, send money
to Moscow, which banned diesel exports in July after airstrikes from Ukrainian
drones cut its output by roughly a third. Russia and can now market the
resumption of exports as a favor to Trump.
The airstrikes are Ukraine's most effective instrument of economic pressure, and
their success owes something to Washington. Ukrainian strikes on Russian
refineries rose elevenfold in the first half of 2026, guided in part by American
intelligence that helped Ukrainian drones slip past Russian air defenses.
On October 10, Trump told reporters that Zelensky had "better damn well stop."
He said so during a week in which Russia had carried out more than 200 strikes
on Ukraine's power generation and transmission facilities and 17 more on gas and
oil sites, while its attacks killed more than 150 Ukrainians. It was Russia's
third major attack wave on Ukraine in four days.
Ukraine's allies may fairly debate its target list, yet demanding that Kyiv
spare Russian oil while Russian drones keep cutting power to Ukrainian cities
tells Putin exactly whose losses Washington is prepared to tolerate. The
ceasefire that followed had no published terms and no means of verification.
Zelensky said it was news to him, and promised to honor it if Russia did. Moscow
confirmed nothing, then struck Ukraine.
A White House official later explained that Trump had in mind a "refinery for
refinery" bargain, with a halt to strikes on power plants and grids possibly to
follow. That asymmetry is grotesque. Ukraine has a single refinery, badly
damaged long ago by Russian strikes, and the country imports the fuel it needs,
whereas Russia's sprawling refining network has become the most exposed flank of
its economy. A truce confined to refineries would shield Russia's principal
vulnerability and leave Ukraine's electric grid open to further attacks as
winter sets in. That suits Putin, who, according to sources familiar with his
thinking, wants no energy truce before winter and is counting on Ukrainian
suffering blackouts in the winter cold to extract concessions his army has
failed to win.
The script is familiar. In March 2025, Putin declined the comprehensive 30-day
truce Washington had proposed and agreed only to pause strikes on energy
infrastructure, and within hours both sides were launching drones at each other.
On September 14, Trump announced another energy truce that neither belligerent
confirmed. The Kremlin called it a "very good idea" and demanded the lifting of
sanctions, and the next day Russian strikes hit fuel stations in Kyiv while
Ukraine hit a Russian refinery. Each partial pause lets Moscow bank diplomatic
credit and press for economic relief as the bombing goes on. An arrangement that
protects Russian revenue while Ukrainians freeze in the dark would hand the
Kremlin a victory dressed up as American diplomacy.
The pressure, meanwhile, has fallen almost entirely on Kyiv. Two Ukrainian
officials say that their American counterparts threatened to cut off
intelligence sharing and PURL (the NATO-financed channel for US weapons) if
Russian energy sites were hit during the supposed truce. A senior aide to
Zelensky has confirmed receiving such threats, while a US official has denied
them. With direct American military aid suspended, intelligence and PURL, which
delivered $6.7 billion in weapons in its first year, are Washington's last real
levers on the battlefield. Turning them against the country being invaded, while
Russia faces no comparable demand -- or apparently any demands whatsoever --
reassures Putin that prolonging the war buys American restraints on Ukraine and
the pathway to a Russian victory.
Trump claims that Zelensky "could have made many deals." In fact he could not --
at least not any that could assure Ukraine a shred of security, which is all he
has ever asked for. If Russia gets to keep parts of eastern Ukraine, it would
provide a fast track to Kiev, as well as tipping off other predators that
invasions work. To Communist Chinese President Xi Jinping, half of Taiwan
probably looks a lot better than no Taiwan.
Washington has better tools. It can make further relief conditional on written,
reciprocal terms that bar attacks on power grids as well as refineries. It can
revoke the diesel export license the moment Russian strikes resume, and the US
can buy diesel fuel from non-Russian suppliers. Canadian Prime Minister Mark
Carney, in fact, declared that it his country has plenty of diesel to sell.
Moscow has spent years disputing Zelensky's legitimacy, and Trump has now joined
in. Zelensky's five-year term of office began in 2019 and would ordinarily have
ended in May 2024, so the matter is a fair subject for debate. Article 19 of
Ukraine's martial law statute, however, bars presidential and parliamentary
elections while martial law is in force, and a parliamentary working group that
includes the Central Election Commission has concluded that a vote under martial
law is not possible. The commission wants six months of preparation once martial
law ends, partly to reach 6.5 million Ukrainians abroad.
On October 11, Zelensky offered to hold elections if Russia accepted a 60-day
ceasefire, thereby shifting the burden of proof onto Moscow. Moscow answered
within a day. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the offer, repeating that
Russia does not want a ceasefire and proposing only that Putin hold fire on
election day itself, since 60 days would merely allow Ukrainians to "regroup,
heal their wounds, and continue the war." According to Zelensky, Russia had
offered the same single day in February.
Putin's interest in Ukrainian democracy extends as far as an election held under
fire, with Russian missiles free to shape the campaign.
Trump is entitled to his frustrations with Zelensky. By calling for a new
Ukrainian leader, however, he hands Moscow a say over a question that belongs to
Ukrainian voters.
Seven US Senators (four of them Republicans) have demanded that the
administration reverse course. They argue that the diesel deal runs directly
counter to the 2022 law banning Russian energy imports. In addition, Putin
started the war, in violation of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which guaranteed
that if Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons, Russia would not invade. The US was
also a signatory. Ukraine honored its commitments under the Memorandum.
Trump prides himself on recognizing a bad deal. This one supplies Putin with
fresh revenue for a war he refuses to end and shields the Russian refineries
that have become his weakest point, while the Ukrainian power grid remains a
target as win ter approaches and Ukraine's skies still remain open. Until Russia
stops striking Ukrainian homes, hospitals, and the electric power grid, every
American concession amounts to an advance payment on a war that only Putin
wants.
**Pierre Rehov, who holds a law degree from Paris-Assas, is a French reporter,
novelist and documentary filmmaker. He is the author of six novels, including
"Beyond Red Lines", "The Third Testament" and "Red Eden", translated from
French. His latest essay on the aftermath of the October 7 massacre " 7 octobre
- La riposte " became a bestseller in France. As a filmmaker, he has produced
and directed 17 documentaries, many photographed at high risk in Middle Eastern
war zones, and focusing on terrorism, media bias, and the persecution of
Christians. His latest documentary, "Pogrom(s)" highlights the context of
ancient Jew hatred within Muslim civilization as the main force behind the
October 7 massacre.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
Sudan: An Opportunity for Dialogue
Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15/2026
Calls for a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue are growing. The principle enjoys wide
support in popular, political, and social circles, and among regional and
international parties, and the work of the Sudanese Dialogue Preparatory
Committee is drawing backing that reflects a growing awareness that the country
needs a way out of its crisis. However complicated the circumstances and however
far apart the positions, dialogue remains one of the most important tools
available for addressing the present crisis, and the imbalances that have
obstructed the building of the Sudanese state since independence.
That does not mean there are no rejectionists or spoilers. Divergent positions
are part of politics, and the entanglement of internal and external interests
makes the crisis harder. But the central wager remains on Sudanese themselves:
on their capacity to put the national interest ahead of partisan and personal
calculations, and to agree on foundations that address the causes of the crises
and wars, rather than settling for temporary arrangements that will only
reproduce them. A real opportunity for dialogue exists today, and squandering it
may make a solution harder and costlier. The longer a solution is delayed, the
more complex the crisis becomes, with the war continuing and regional and
international interventions accelerating. Why close a window that could open a
path to peace and stability?
No reasonable person who cares for the country and its citizens can reject
dialogue, or place his own calculations or ambitions above the national
interest. Opposing is easy. Rather than rejecting, put forward solutions and
ideas, so they can be laid on the table for discussion with everyone. No one can
monopolize the solution or silence the rest of society.
Dialogue is a necessity, not a political luxury. First, it expresses the
national will, allowing Sudanese to shape their country's future themselves,
free of dictates and pressures that may put others' interests ahead of Sudan's
needs. Second, it offers a chance to address the roots of the crisis, not only
its symptoms. Since independence in 1956, Sudan has failed to build an inclusive
national project that accommodates its diversity, defines the nature of the
state and its system of government, and delivers balanced development. Third,
dialogue can break political and social polarization, moving competing forces
from trading accusations to searching for common ground. That requires it to
reach beyond the elites and the parties to include civilian forces, the native
administrations, religious communities, the young, women, the displaced and
refugees, Sudanese abroad, the war's victims, and representatives of
marginalized regions and communities. The wider the participation, the more
likely any agreement will reflect what Sudanese actually want, rather than
merely the balance of power among the military and political parties to the
conflict.
Why Has Sudan Stumbled?
Sudan’s current crisis cannot be understood in isolation from its long history
of governance failures. Civilian and military regimes have come and gone, coups
and wars have recurred, and the country’s political elites have repeatedly
failed to establish stable mechanisms for the transfer of power or build strong,
independent national institutions. At many critical junctures, the pursuit of
political survival has taken precedence over the task of state-building, while
patronage, corruption, and mismanagement have steadily eroded public trust in
state institutions. At the same time, centralized policies have deepened the
sense of marginalization among broad segments of the population. Successive
governments have failed to embrace Sudan’s cultural, ethnic, and religious
diversity as a source of strength or to forge an inclusive national identity
grounded in equal citizenship.
Economic crises, underinvestment in education and infrastructure, and dependence
on a narrow range of resources have further weakened the state. Meanwhile,
regional and international interests have become entangled in domestic
conflicts, making a resolution of the crisis even more complex. Yet attributing
Sudan’s failure to external interference alone overlooks the responsibility of
domestic actors, just as blaming the political elite exclusively fails to
account for the full range of historical, economic, and social forces that have
contributed to the crisis.
Acknowledging the mistakes of the past should not become an endless exercise in
recrimination that paralyses the future. Rather, it should serve as the starting
point for meaningful reform. Dialogue must therefore produce a clear roadmap
that lays the groundwork for a transition leading to free and fair elections,
helps secure an end to the war, upholds the rule of law, delivers justice and
accountability, and launches a national process to address grievances and
provide redress for past harms. This process cannot succeed without an economic
and social vision capable of rebuilding what the war has destroyed, creating
jobs, investing in education and balanced development, and ensuring a fair
distribution of resources and opportunities. Peace is not simply the absence of
fighting. It also means that citizens feel treated fairly and live in security,
with confidence that the state belongs to all of them.
Dialogue, however, is no automatic guarantee of success. Its outcome will depend
on the seriousness of those involved, the inclusiveness of the process, and
their willingness to implement what is agreed. Sudan has an opportunity that
must not be squandered. Can its political and social forces rise above competing
interests and calculations, placing the national interest above all else? The
answer to this question will go a long way towards determining whether dialogue
becomes a gateway to building a new state founded on citizenship, justice, and
peace—or merely another chapter in Sudan’s long history of squandered
opportunities.
Syrian-Libyan Rapprochement is a Positive Step
Dr. Jebril El-Abidi/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15/2026
The visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to Benghazi, the capital
of the Libyan revolution, marks the beginning of serious steps toward
rapprochement between the two countries. Benghazi has long flown the flag of the
Syrian revolution alongside Libya’s independence flag, with the two coming
together in the city’s skies in solidarity with the struggle against
dictatorship in both countries. As the saying goes, “Listening is half the
solution to a problem.” Accordingly, this phase of listening and direct dialogue
between the Libyan and Syrian sides, particularly in Benghazi, represents an
important and serious step toward breaking down the walls of isolation that some
parties have attempted to erect between the two brotherly countries, whose
historical ties stretch back hundreds of years.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced last Sunday that Shaibani had arrived in
the Libyan city of Benghazi on an official visit, during which he was scheduled
to hold meetings with Libyan officials. Accompanied by the head of Syrian
intelligence, Major General Abdul Qader Tahhan, Shaibani met with the deputy
commander of the Libyan National Army, Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, in
Benghazi, with officials from the Libyan side also attending.
The visit includes discussions on several important issues, some of which remain
unresolved, including the cases of missing Syrians and Libyans. War and the
chaos of the “Arab Spring” turned both countries into victims of ISIS and
similar groups, with fighters and infiltrators of both Syrian and Libyan
nationality moving between the two countries. Many of them entered or crossed
borders without identification documents or even authorization from the
authorities of either country, resulting in many people disappearing.
The fate of these missing persons is one of the most difficult and complex
issues to resolve and will require considerable time to untangle, particularly
given the presence in Tripoli of Syrian armed groups that are not affiliated
with the new Syrian government in Damascus. Correcting and addressing these
circumstances is therefore an important step for both countries. The timing and
current circumstances in both countries offer an opportunity to improve
relations, particularly in light of international and regional changes that
could help ease tensions and facilitate progress on a range of bilateral issues.
These include economic projects, which can serve as a strong foundation for
stable and lasting relations.
Eastern Libya, and Benghazi in particular, shares historical ties, customs,
traditions and a common cultural heritage with the Levant and the broader Arab
East, all of which can contribute to developing Libyan-Syrian relations.
Although the visit succeeded in opening a Syrian consulate in Benghazi,
establishing formal relations and initiating discussions on security issues
between the two sides, some opponents of the visit, particularly those opposed
to any rapprochement with the Benghazi camp, argue that the city is “Haftar’s
stronghold, hostile to the Syrian revolution and the Syrian people.”
This is a historical misconception and an inaccurate claim. Benghazi was among
the first Arab cities to embrace activists from the Syrian revolution, raise its
flags, collect donations for it and dispatch relief teams. Medical aid convoys
also departed from Benghazi. Such misconceptions were therefore intended to
demonize Benghazi and the leadership of the Libyan army, which defeated ISIS and
similar groups and upheld the state against chaos. Political realism requires
Damascus to engage with Benghazi, particularly on security matters. Tripoli
remains fragile from a security standpoint, while the influence of militias and
armed brigades remains undisciplined, making it difficult to rely on agreements
with them. By contrast, the leadership of the disciplined Libyan army is based
in Benghazi. The Libyan army controls most border crossings and frontiers and
secures more than 80 percent of Libyan territory across the east, south and
west, with the exception of Tripoli and its surrounding areas. Direct engagement
with the Libyan army’s leadership, particularly on security and intelligence
matters, is therefore politically pragmatic. Both the Syrian Foreign Ministry
and the Libyan side in Benghazi seek to advance the shared interests of the two
countries, which can be developed by taking an important first step: addressing
the legal and logistical problems facing Syrians living in Libya and
regularizing their legal status. The Libyan-Syrian meeting in Benghazi will
strengthen prospects for rapprochement and mutual understanding, improve the
atmosphere between the two sides, and help resolve outstanding issues within an
Arab-Arab framework, away from regional and even international interventions
whose interests and influence have intersected starkly in both countries. Libya
and Syria have faced severe foreign interference in their political and economic
affairs, contributing to wars, displacement and tragedies that remain deeply
embedded in the memories of both peoples. Libyan-Syrian relations will not stop
at the opening of an embassy in Tripoli and a consulate in Benghazi. Rather,
they are likely to expand into economic projects and joint security and defense
cooperation serving the interests of the two brotherly Arab countries, away from
the demons of the “Arab Spring.” Today in Benghazi, tomorrow in Damascus or
Aleppo. These meetings must continue in order to draw up a new roadmap and
reorder priorities between the two countries. Such engagement can help address
outstanding issues, create additional opportunities for bilateral cooperation,
and develop political and economic relations in ways that will benefit both the
Libyan and Syrian peoples.
What's Next after the Houthi Attacks on Saudi Civilian Airports?!
Hassan Al Mustafa/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15/2026
One person was killed and 11 others were injured as a result of a Houthi attack
on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Sunday,
October 11. A day earlier, the General Authority of Civil Aviation announced
that 12 people had been killed and 302 injured in another Houthi attack
targeting the same airport on Saturday, October 10. There have also been attacks
on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, preceded by attacks on the
airports of Abha, Jazan, and Najran. This means that the Houthi militias have
targeted five Saudi civilian airports during October alone.
Through this focus on airports, the Houthis seek to create an atmosphere of fear
among citizens and residents, increase the economic, military, and humanitarian
costs for Saudi Arabia, and thereby undermine morale.
The Houthi group is also seeking to improve its position on the battlefield and
at the negotiating table, particularly as it faces financial and social crises
in the areas under its control. In recent weeks, it has been engaged in fierce
daily battles with forces of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, with
hundreds of its fighters killed. Many of its ammunition depots and military
facilities have also come under intensive daily airstrikes by the Coalition to
Support Legitimacy, based on a precise and clearly defined target list drawn up
using intelligence surveillance and information from sources on the ground. It
is a fierce battle that will not be easy and may continue for a prolonged
period.
The Houthis are attempting to counter this financial, social, and military
pressure by targeting civilian infrastructure and energy facilities. They
believe such attacks will push Riyadh to engage with mediators in an effort to
persuade the Houthis to stop targeting the Kingdom.
The Houthis would then demand a price in return, creating a form of political
and economic blackmail: money and influence in exchange for security. There is
another factor. The Houthi leadership in Saada believes that the previous
“verbal understanding” reached between it and the administration of US President
Donald Trump, under which the United States halted strikes against the Houthis
in exchange for their pledge not to target American vessels, gives the group the
ability to keep Washington on the sidelines.
The Houthis have also conveyed messages through the US Embassy in the Sultanate
of Oman stating that they would not target American interests, in an attempt to
neutralize President Trump and drive a wedge between him and Riyadh.
This is how the Houthis think. They hope their policies will enable them to
achieve their objectives. If they succeed, such tactics could become a permanent
pattern of behavior based on blackmail and the use of civilians as hostages to
ensure their continued hold on power.
If we examine Houthi behavior and objectives calmly and through the lens of
logical political analysis, we find that their assumptions are based on an
unrealistic perception that fails to account for the major changes the region
has undergone since October 7, 2023. These transformations have been profound.
The Houthis’ allies in the so-called “Axis of Resistance” – Hezbollah, Hamas,
the Iraqi factions, and the Iranian regime that coordinates them – have lost
many of their sources of strength and are now less capable of imposing their
agendas, particularly following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria
and the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Hezbollah Secretary-General
Hassan Nasrallah.
It is true that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the so-called
“resistance factions” retain the ability to inflict harm by launching drones and
ballistic missiles. Yet despite the human and financial losses such attacks can
cause, their costs can be absorbed, and they are unlikely to fundamentally alter
the balance of power. For its part, Saudi Arabia has prepared for such threats
through its defense systems. Despite casualties among civilians, damage at
airports and disruptions to oil supplies, as well as the widespread public anger
these attacks have generated toward the Houthis, the interception rate of Saudi
air defenses against ballistic missiles and drones remains high. This
demonstrates the efficiency and preparedness of the Saudi Armed Forces, despite
attacks targeting several parts of the Kingdom and originating from multiple
external actors: Iran’s IRGC targeting the Eastern and Central regions, Iraqi
armed factions launching attacks from the Kingdom’s northern frontier toward oil
supply lines, and the Houthis attacking the capital as well as southern and
western Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is a vast country exposed to genuine threats from hostile actors
using a variety of methods. Yet life continues normally across its provinces,
cities, and villages. This gives citizens and residents a greater sense of
security and strengthens their loyalty to their government. At the same time, it
reinforces social cohesion and fortifies the domestic front. This helps explain
the anger that swept through Saudi society following the Houthi terrorist
attacks. It was a form of anger that strengthened national identity without
falling into the trap of sloganeering or populism. Instead, it deepened public
alignment behind the leadership and confidence in its political and military
decisions. As for the Saudi government, anyone who follows the statements issued
by the Cabinet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and
the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, in which Riyadh plays a central role, will
recognize that the Kingdom is determined to deal firmly with the Houthis. This
is not because Saudi Arabia rejects a diplomatic solution. Quite the opposite:
it has allowed years for peaceful solutions to work, but the Houthis failed to
take advantage of those opportunities. Saudi Arabia has now become convinced
that the Houthis cannot be allowed to continue killings and acts of terrorism
without deterrence, lest such conduct become a permanent pattern.
Accordingly, Riyadh is supporting the military effort of Operation Dawn of Yemen
and the forces battling the Houthis on the ground. At the same time, it
continues to conduct precise air operations through the coalition, while the
Saudi Armed Forces bolster those efforts by intercepting missiles and drones
targeting the Kingdom. Therefore, according to a measured political assessment
free from wishful thinking, the Houthis will not achieve their objectives.
Riyadh will not accept becoming hostage to terrorism, nor will the international
community accept an outlawed group obstructing safe navigation through the Bab
al-Mandab Strait. As for the Saudi people, anyone observing public sentiment
will find support for confronting the Houthis, weakening their capabilities, and
compelling them to halt their attacks permanently. Saudi society understands
very well that whatever price is paid today will be lower than the price that
could be paid in the future if the Houthis and their allies among terrorist and
outlawed groups are allowed to grow stronger. Everything has a price. Security
is safeguarded through strength that supports and accompanies diplomacy,
enabling it to impose peace, stability, and respect for international law.
Militarily and politically, Riyadh will act according to its national and
broader strategic interests, in a manner consistent with the objectives of Saudi
Vision 2030, which seeks to advance development, build a diversified economy,
and create a modern civil state.
Saudi Arabia’s response to Houthi terrorism will therefore be governed by its
own calculations, with the protection of its interests coming first and
foremost. Its objective will be to deter attacks against the Kingdom according
to Saudi Arabia’s own rules, rather than those dictated by the Houthis or any
other regional actor.
Regional Alliances Confronting the Iranian Narrative
Amr el-Shobaki/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 15/2026
Tehran has often stated that it wants the Middle East to be free of any military
presence by major powers, particularly the United States, and has called on
Washington not to interfere in the region’s affairs, arguing that Middle Eastern
countries are better able to resolve their own problems. Paradoxically, the
countries of the region have put this vision into practice without Iran. They
have relied, first, on their own capabilities for protection and, second, on the
umbrella of a regional alliance, as Saudi Arabia did through the Makkah
Agreement with Türkiye and Pakistan. The agreement laid the foundation for an
emerging regional alliance capable of playing a key role in deterring Houthi
attacks, which have made no distinction between people and infrastructure. The
Makkah Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan on August 7,
included several provisions, most notably “collective defense and joint
deterrence.” It stipulated that an attack on any one of the three countries
would be considered an attack on all three. In principle, this is what makes the
agreement similar to the concept underpinning Article 5 of NATO. The agreement
was further strengthened at a meeting in Istanbul on August 31, with the
establishment of a general secretariat to institutionalize cooperation among the
three countries. More recently, two meetings were held in Riyadh, the first on
September 26 and the second on October 5, following an escalation in Houthi
attacks that culminated in the targeting of civilian airports inside the
Kingdom. Despite declarations by the United States and countries around the
world expressing support for Saudi Arabia and confidence in its ability to
defend itself, US military intervention against the Houthis has been governed by
American priorities.
The United States had previously carried out heavy strikes against Houthi
positions in Sanaa and elsewhere based on US-Israeli calculations rather than
those of the countries of the region. This made a regional agreement among the
three countries almost inevitable, particularly as their deterrent capabilities
became apparent amid the new challenges created by the situation in Yemen. The
strength of this regional agreement lies, first, in the capabilities of the
three countries and the diversity of their sources of power, which make them
appear complementary.
Saudi Arabia possesses considerable financial strength alongside its military
capabilities. It also wields influence in the Arab world and the Gulf and
carries profound symbolic and religious significance across the Islamic world.
Türkiye, meanwhile, is a major military power with an advanced defense industry.
It has developed a presence and influence across virtually every major regional
issue, from Libya to Sudan and from Syria to Gaza. Its armed forces are NATO’s
second largest in terms of personnel after those of the United States. Many see
Türkiye as a defensive bulwark, or deterrent force, vis-à-vis Israel and Iran,
compelling both to calculate carefully before expanding their attacks against
countries in the region.
Pakistan, despite its economic difficulties and the financial assistance it has
received from Saudi Arabia on more than one occasion, has succeeded in building
formidable military and nuclear capabilities, which demonstrated their
effectiveness in its most recent confrontation with India. Pakistan has also
played a key role in mediating between the United States and Iran and has kept
its channels of communication with Tehran open to this day.
The second, and perhaps more important, dimension is that the Makkah Agreement,
or the broader model of regional alliances, is not merely a military defense
arrangement. It also sends a message that the countries of the region can agree
on an alliance outside the framework of the great powers and independently of
Iran, even if all three countries are allies of the United States. Their
calculations regarding the defense of their national security differ from those
of Washington, whose decisions on whether to reach agreements with Iran or wage
war against it are governed by its own considerations.
The Iranian narrative, which has long advocated a system of joint regional
defense, has thus found itself confronted by a rival regional alliance that
exists outside its own narrative and stands against its proxies. Yet this
alliance consists of countries that do not seek Iran’s destruction.
At no stage, even at the height of Iranian hostility, have they said that they
wanted to destroy Iran or would participate in an attack against it. Rather,
they have sought, and continue to seek, to see Iran become a normal state
without regional proxies that it uses to attack other countries.
It is therefore important to view the Makkah Agreement not merely as a military
defense pact, but as a voluntary choice by some of the region’s most prominent
states to ally with one another and put into practice the principle that “the
countries of the region are better able to solve their own problems.”
Official Iraq "Aware": A Heavy Blow Against
"Iran-Aligned Factions"
Amer Al-Hantouli/Al-Modon/October 16, 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
Intelligence and military assessments within Iraq suggest the country may be
vulnerable to a massive Israeli strike—likely occurring either before Israel’s
legislative elections or the US midterm elections, two pivotal events separated
by only about a week. A senior Iraqi official told *Al-Modon* that high-level
Iraqi figures had inquired with key regional powers about potential Israeli
military action inside Iraq; the response indicated a "very high probability" of
such a strike before the end of the month. Furthermore, Israel might act
unilaterally, without intervention from the administration of US President
Donald Trump or other Middle Eastern nations. Do the factions possess advanced
missiles? Regional capitals share the Iraqi government's concern that if these
armed factions are targeted by Israeli airstrikes, they might expand the scope
of their military retaliation both inside and outside Iraq. The official noted
that these factions would wage a "war and chaos" with no limits if they felt
facing total annihilation—though it remains unclear whether they possess
"advanced missiles" (utilizing technology smuggled by Iran over the years) that
Iraqi factions have successfully assembled at undisclosed locations. 50 Lethal
Missiles?
The Iraqi official notes that previous classified reports shared by
international and regional intelligence agencies indicate that certain Iraqi
factions collectively possess around 50 destructive, lethal missiles—weapons
that could be deployed in a "moment of desperation." This situation compels the
Trump administration, Israel, and regional states to exercise caution when
dealing with these factions' "unknown weapons"—specifically those that have
evaded intelligence detection. It remains unclear whether Israel has
managed—through local agents or specialized technology—to locate the "dangerous
and hidden" portion of the arsenal held by these fully Iranian-backed factions.
However, the official also points out that these factions might be unable to
launch the missiles, both due to a lack of the necessary launch technology and
because they are under constant, close surveillance by intelligence agencies and
satellite monitoring. An Easier, Surefire Solution
According to an Iraqi official, regional states advised Iraqi Prime Minister Ali
Al-Zaidi to avoid an "internal confrontation" with Iranian-backed Iraqi
factions. The aim was to prevent giving these factions a pretext to expand the
scope of the conflict or launch attacks on neighboring countries under Iranian
orders—a stance Al-Zaidi also conveyed to the U.S. President during his visit to
Washington. The Iraqi government and regional states agree that the most
reliable solution—entailing the lowest cost and fewest repercussions—is to cut
off the factions' financial lifelines, prevent Iran from exploiting the Iraqi
economy, and stop the use of Iraqi banks to move Iranian funds to the armed
factions that Iraq seeks to disarm and bring under state authority.
Azerbaijan and Ankara: Two Secular States Whose Interests
Are Tested by the Hijab
Said Issa/Al-Modon/October 16, 2026 (AI translation from Arabic)
Ankara and Baku both claim to be secular states, yet the issue of the hijab in
Azerbaijani schools has revealed that secularism means something different in
each country. Turkey—which has lifted restrictions on the hijab over the past
two decades—now criticizes similar restrictions imposed by its ally; meanwhile,
Azerbaijan, steadfast in its strict secularism, views this criticism as
interference in its internal affairs. The sectarian dimension further
complicates the matter: Sunni Turkey is governed by a party with Islamist roots,
whereas the state in culturally Shiite Azerbaijan fears the politicization of
religion.
Two Similar Yet Distinct Secularisms
The Azerbaijani constitution defines the state as secular while simultaneously
guaranteeing freedom of religion, with approximately 96% of the population
identifying as Muslim. Turkey is also secular according to its constitution—a
fact cited by the "New Azerbaijan" party in its statements—yet the two
experiences differ. In Turkey, women wearing the hijab were previously barred
from universities and public sector jobs—a situation that peaked during the 1997
"post-modern coup"—before the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government
lifted these restrictions between 2010 and 2017. Azerbaijan, conversely,
inherited a form of secularism from the Soviet era that treats religion as a
state-regulated matter, keeping religious institutions under strict government
oversight. This analytical perspective helps explain the mutual
misunderstanding: Turkish secularism leans closer to neutrality regarding
religion, whereas Azerbaijani secularism leans closer to state tutelage over it.
The dispute, therefore, is not between secularism and religion, but rather
between two models of managing religion within a secular state. Azerbaijani
secularism traces its roots back to the 1918 Democratic Republic and the
subsequent Soviet era; consequently, Baku regards it as a cornerstone of the
state’s identity—and thus non-negotiable. In contrast, Erdoğan has frequently
invoked Turkey’s past experiences in his rhetoric against secular opponents,
making it difficult for him to remain silent regarding restrictions that remind
his own constituency of the hardships they once endured.
The Crisis Unfolds
Protests against the ban on the hijab are nothing new in Azerbaijan; a ban in
schools previously sparked widespread demonstrations in 2010. Last month, the
government revised school dress code regulations, with the official news agency
stating that the aim was to standardize appearance in a manner reflecting the
"secular principle." Although the text does not explicitly mention the hijab,
many schools have barred female students and teachers wearing headscarves from
entering the premises. Teachers in Baku and Sumgayit reported being told they
must either remove their headscarves or resign, and reports indicated that a
number of protesters were detained during the ensuing demonstrations. In
response to these criticisms and protests, Baku maintains that the new rules are
grounded in equality, secularism, and the rule of law, and that they do not
explicitly ban the hijab. Critics, however, counter that the practical
implementation goes beyond the letter of the law, effectively depriving female
students of education and teachers of employment. One affected teacher stated
that wearing the hijab is a personal choice and that the decision to remove it
should rest solely with the individual. Amidst these political tensions, Erdoğan—without
explicitly naming Azerbaijan—told the UN General Assembly that banning the hijab
in schools constitutes an assault on women's fundamental rights; Turkish
officials noted that his speech predated the first such incident in Azerbaijani
schools by a week. Subsequently, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev warned at
his party's conference against "interference in our way of life," though he did
not explicitly mention Turkey. At the time, *Middle East Eye* reported that
Turkish officials had assured Baku that Ankara would not intervene. However, on
the 12th of this month, Oktay Saral, a senior advisor to Erdoğan, issued a
public statement asserting that the hijab is a "tenet of faith" and urging Baku
to reverse this "mistake." These calls were echoed by figures from the Justice
and Development Party (AKP), such as Leyla Şahin Usta, deputy chair of the AKP
parliamentary group, and MP Mehmet Müfit Aydın, while independent MP Mustafa
Yeneroğlu had previously urged Erdoğan to raise the issue with Baku. In
response, Azerbaijan’s ruling party (the New Azerbaijan Party) issued a
statement describing Saral’s remarks as "populist and irresponsible." It
reiterated that the slogan "one nation, two states" signifies a single nation
comprising two independent, sovereign states, while expressing concern over
Turkish tendencies toward hegemony and interference in the country's internal
affairs.
**Sectarianism and Politics**
Amidst this exchange of statements and counter-statements, sectarian and
political dimensions come to the fore. While the majority of Azerbaijan’s
population is Shiite, decades of Soviet rule have resulted in a "cultural"
rather than a "political" form of Shiism. The state views religious parties and
networks—whether Shiite or Sunni—with suspicion and wariness, fearing both
"political Shiism" linked to Iran and the rise of Salafism. Notably, the leader
of the Islamic Party, Movsum Samadov, was imprisoned, and the 2015 Nardaran
unrest was suppressed. Consequently, it is difficult for popular protests in
Baku—even those driven by religious motives—to evolve into an organized
political movement, as the state affords no space for religious parties.
Conversely, pressure is mounting from Turkey’s Sunni Islamic base; demonstrators
have protested outside the Azerbaijani consulate in Istanbul, likening the
restrictions to the situation in Turkey in 1997. This places Erdoğan in a bind
between pressure from his religious base and his strategic interests, as Turkish
nationalists view Azerbaijan as a fraternal Turkic nation and are loath to lose
it. For its part, Azerbaijan’s ruling party stated that using the hijab as a
tool for political maneuvering and division serves neither the unity of the
Turkish people nor the solidarity of the Islamic world. Each side invokes the
other's history: Ankara recalls its own bitter experience with bans, while
reminding Baku of Turkey’s constitutional secularism. Furthermore, sectarian
differences—Turkey being predominantly Sunni and Azerbaijan predominantly Shia—limit
the scope of Ankara’s actions; consequently, its rhetoric focuses on women's
rights rather than sectarian issues. The situation could shift if the protests
escalate or if an official Turkish response is issued; however, shared interests
regarding the Zangezur Corridor, energy, and military support drive both parties
to keep the dispute within the bounds of their comprehensive alliance.
Selected Face Book & X tweets
on October
15/2026
Iran International English
https://x.com/IranIntl_En/status/2110504829177241911/video/1
Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami criticized the Islamic Republic’s
involvement in the Palestinian issue, saying Iran had “no right to interfere”
and that it was for the Palestinian people themselves to determine their course.
Khatami said Israel was established “through
nancy nisrine Lakkis
ملف الشراء الممنهج للعقارات في المتن، والجبل، والمناطق الاستراتيجية هو تمدد
جيو-أمني خطير. نكررها بوضوح: المواجهة ليست مع أهلنا الشيعة، فهم شركاء أصيلون في
الوطن. مواجهتنا هي حصراً مع مشروع الحرس الثوري الإيراني وأمواله السياسية التي
تصادر السيادة والأرض.
@usembassybeirut
@SecRubio
#لبنان_محتل
Time is running out. The systematic purchasing of strategic lands in Metn, the
Chouf, and the South is rapidly imposing a dangerous geopolitical reality on
Lebanon. This is not about our Shiite compatriots who are an integral part of
this nation but about the IRGC's financial and territorial expansion. We must
act before it's too late.
@usembassybeirut
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
No peacekeeping force in modern history has failed to stop as many wars as the
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). For decades, it provided
diplomatic cover for the progressive erosion of security and state sovereignty
in southern Lebanon rather than enforcing the dismantling of militias it was
mandated to oversee.
In March 2026, as part of Operation "Roaring Lion", eight bridges along the
Litani River were struck
Israel-Alma
In March 2026, as part of Operation "Roaring Lion", eight bridges along the
Litani River were struck, according to open-source information. These bridges
served Hezbollah in moving operatives and weapons under civilian cover. In our
new report, attached here, we examine their current structural and security
status. The findings indicate that the strikes significantly disrupted transit
routes, but emergency repairs, temporary crossings, and alternative bridges have
restored much of the capacity to cross the river.
Although the network of crossings over the Litani has not yet been fully
restored, the routes now appear open for Hezbollah to move operatives,
equipment, and weapons south of the river. Despite the Lebanese Army's
involvement in rehabilitation efforts, continuous military monitoring on the
ground has not been verified at all active crossings. Informal crossings along
the river must also be taken into account. The seizure of the vehicle carrying
Hezbollah explosives by Lebanese security forces at the Dahr al-Baydar
checkpoint on October 5 sharpens the question of enforcement along the routes to
southern Lebanon as well. If the organization continues attempting to move such
shipments through a permanent, well-known checkpoint such as Dahr al-Baydar, how
will the state prevent similar transfers at the Litani crossings? Even if a
shipment happens to be intercepted, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah's remarks on
October 15 regarding the seized vehicle warrant close attention. We have
previously published extensively on the "revolving door" practice, whereby
equipment and weapons are returned to Hezbollah after being seized by security
forces. Fadlallah’s remarks leave no room for doubt in this regard.
The test of Lebanese sovereignty lies in the state's ability to secure the
crossings and prevent Hezbollah from exploiting their reopening to rebuild its
military infrastructure south of the Litani. https://israel-alma.org/the-litani-river-bridges-struck-in-march-2026-their-structural-and-security-status-and-how-hezbollah-is-exploiting-the-situation/
Nadine Barakat
Once again, all security agencies are under President Aoun. is more attentive to
details than the government itself; it’s a shame to see USA and Israel more
interested in disarming Hezbollah than Aoun.
Hezbollah main cancer cell /black box is in baabda. Nothing will change … so
long as he is there. Growing the fortune and cooperating with Hezbollah
(political /financial gangster) seems to be a priority …
But guaranteed, they will keep arresting donkeys here and there ..What about
Sharaa ? The explosives came from Syria …
Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי
Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad reportedly consoled Israeli Ambassador
Yechiel Leiter after his son was wounded in a terror attack. Hezbollah lawyer
Hassan Bazzi filed a complaint, which Judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj referred for
review. Lebanon deserves better than a judicial circus that criminalizes
compassion while turning a blind eye to Hezbollah’s stranglehold on the country.
Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران
https://x.com/ariel_oseran/status/2110694177621024962/video/1
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah admits that the truck carrying hundreds of
kilograms of explosives seized last week by Lebanese security forces belonged
to the Iran-backed group. "The vehicle and its cargo belong to the resistance,"
Fadlallah said.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Hiba reports Rubio to talk to Lebanese Prez Aoun about 800kg of explosives
caught with Hezbollah on a busy road. Since explosives and Hezbollah operatives
were caught, on Friday, Aoun has not said a word about it. As the Lebanese say:
Pretend you’re dead.
Bassam Barabandi بسام بربندي
“According to reports, dozens of Iraqis arrive in Lebanon daily carrying up to
$10,000 each, delivering the cash to Hezbollah-linked money exchangers for
commissions of $300–$500.
The alleged cash route runs from Tehran through Baghdad to Beirut, helping
finance Hezbollah’s operations and compensation payments despite U.S. sanctions
and Lebanese restrictions.”
Hiba Nasr
For those who aren’t following closely:
Hezbollah did not only acknowledge that the shipment of explosive materials
seized by the authorities last week belongs to it; it also demanded its return
and the release of the detainees.
And for the complaint against the Lebanese Ambassador in DC, read the story
below
In an unusual development, one of the leading figures on Lebanon’s negotiating
team with Israel is facing what could be seen as an attempt at intimidation.
Lebanese lawyer Hassan Adel Bazzi has filed a complaint against
Darin LaHood
Hezbollah is a malign cancer that will use any tool at its disposal to undermine
Lebanon’s sovereignty. The complaint against Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad is a
disgraceful attempt to obstruct diplomacy between Israel and Lebanon. Her
excellent work is critical to building a safer and more prosperous Lebanon free
from terrorist influence.
גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel | Diplomatic Correspondent
NETANYAHU: I SPOKE WITH AL-SHARA’A, AND THE MASSACRE STOPPED
https://x.com/GuyAz/status/2110725934827381195/video/1
Speaking at a conference with the Druze community, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu revealed: “I spoke with al-Shara’a. It was
Hanin Hassoun Ghaddar
On Hezbollah’ announcement of Aid Packages - Let’s do the math:
More than 300,000 people remain displaced in Lebanon. How far would Hezbollah’s
reported $200 million from Iran actually go?
Assuming four people per family, that is roughly 75,000 families. Providing each
with the announced $12,000–$14,000 package would require $900 million–$1.05
billion.
Even if the reported Iranian funding is available—a claim Washington
disputes—and every dollar reaches displaced families, it covers only about
one-fifth of that estimated need.
Hezbollah can’t afford to spend a billion dollars on aid even if they have it.
They have more pressing priorities.
The promised payments cover rent and furniture, spread over a year. This is NOT
reconstruction aid.
This is not the first time Hezbollah has promised compensation and faltered on
delivery. Earlier payments were delayed or suspended, leaving families waiting,
homeless, and very angry.
Hezbollah has been bleeding supporters and voters. And they know how
disillusioned the Shia community is. This is just their way to buy time, hoping
Iran recovers financially one way or another. See less