English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 23/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
Nothing beyond what is written’, so that none of you will be puffed up in favour of one against another
First Letter to the Corinthians 04/01-13/:”Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they should be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God. I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us the meaning of the saying, ‘Nothing beyond what is written’, so that none of you will be puffed up in favour of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Quite apart from us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we might be kings with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honour, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.

Titles For The English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 22-23/2026
The Anniversary of the Aaichiye Massacre and the Assassination of Dany Chamoun and His Family… Criminal, Terrorist, Jihadist, and Barbaric Political Islam/Elias Bejjani/October 21/2026
The Necessity of Ending Lebanon’s “Battleground” Status and Recognizing Israel/Elias Bejjani/October 20/2026
Lebanon's Justice Minister: Hezbollah Explosives Shipment a Violation of National Security/Beirut: Nazeer Rida/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Netanyahu vows to 'sever head of octopus' and 'its arms Hamas and Hezbollah'
Will Israel’s war with Hezbollah cost Netanyahu votes in the north?
Israel faces accusations over potential Iran strike ahead of elections
Nassar: Hezbollah explosives probe expanding, file must be referred to Judicial Council
Lebanon’s president calls for restraint amid regional tensions, reaffirms solidarity with Saudi Arabia
Salam warns unauthorized weapons storage and transport threaten public safety
Lebanon's Economy Minister reports 19,400 consumer inspections since start of year
Lebanese Forces ministers walk out of Cabinet over failure to refer explosives case to Judicial Council
Report: Iran says doesn't need Hezbollah support in new war
Israeli strikes target Kfartebnit, al-Qantara
Will Cabinet refer Hezbollah explosives case to Judicial Council?
Berri calls for national unity, cautions against escalation over Hezbollah explosives
SEAL California rallies for Lebanon at gala blending tech and violin
Jumblatt warns of Assad-era ties in Lebanon’s security services

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 22-23/2026
Trump says something will happen regarding Iran ‘fairly soon’
Trump: Iran is Trying to Drive Up Oil Prices Before Midterm Elections
Report: Trump’s Son ‘Expressed Private Concerns About Iran War to his Father’
Iran’s IRGC threaten to hit US bases in retaliation for Hormuz escorts
Iran warns US data centers, AI facilities could be targeted if war resumes
Iranian Lawmaker Threatens to Close Border with Pakistan
Iran's Parliament Speaker Meets Supreme Leader to Discuss War Impact
Iran's IRGC Navy Says Seven Vessels Hit, Warns US of Wider Response
Two killed, eight injured in attack on Saudi Arabia’s Dammam airport: Aviation authority
Israel’s election may change its leader, but not Iran war policy
US expands sanctions campaign against Iran’s oil trade, support networks
Iran reports ship fires, mine strikes, threatens wider response against US
Trump says Iran is trying to drive up oil prices before the midterm elections
Two killed, 8 injured in Dammam airport attack
US orders Gulf diplomatic drawdown after deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia
Saudi says downed drones in Riyadh, Medina areas
Egypt urges political solution between Saudis and Houthis
Top European, Mideast diplomats to meet in Istanbul Friday
Macron meets Saudi crown prince in ‘solidarity visit’, secures diesel supplies
Houthi attacks on holy sites, civilian facilities is a grave crime, says Malaysia’s mufti
UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh enters race to become next UN chief
Man with Down syndrome killed in Israeli raid in southern Syria, residents say
Aramco CEO: Strength of financial position enhances investments and resilience
Kremlin Says It Will Review Trump's Invitation to G20 Summit, No Decision Yet
Syria says two security personnel killed in operation against ISIS-linked cell
Druze Source Denies Reports of Plans for Israeli Base in Rural Sweida
Israeli Fire Kills Three People in Gaza
Sources Reveal to Asharq Al-Awsat Details of Fatah-Hamas Talks in Cairo
Iraq Condemns Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Rejects Use of Its Territory to Target the Kingdom
Tunisia: Former Presidential Candidate Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison
Targeted by Trump, ICC in Running for Top EU Rights Prize
France Reports 1st Human Shamonda Virus Case, Says No Health Risk
Turkey to host regional, European FMs for talks on regional conflicts: Source

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 22-23/2026
Les équivoques d’un pays en fin de parcours/Dr. Charles Chartouni/icibeyrouth/October 15/2026
The Ambiguities of a Country at the End of Its Road/Dr. Charles Chartouni/icibeyrouth/October 15, 2026
Europe's Settlement Boycotts Crush the Palestinians/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/October 22/2026
Sudan Confronts a War of Economics and Drones/Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Deliberate and Intentional/Samir Atallah/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
What Iran Failed to Achieve is Being Repeated with the Houthis!/Huda al-Husseini/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Libya Remains Hostage to Those Obstructing a Solution/Jebril Elabidi/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Global security depends on Saudi Arabia’s security/Zaid AlKami/Al Arabiya English/22 October/2026
US must incorporate Houthi threat into its Iran strategy/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/October 22, 2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 22-23/2026 (Some of the News reports below are translated from Arabic by AI)
The Anniversary of the Aaichiye Massacre and the Assassination of Dany Chamoun and His Family… Criminal, Terrorist, Jihadist, and Barbaric Political Islam
Elias Bejjani/October 21/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/68292/
The systematic brutality targeting Lebanon’s free and sovereign patriots — including leaders, clergy, and intellectuals — has continued since the 1970s through various forms of repression and terrorism. Nothing has changed for the better since the Aaichiye Massacre and the assassination of martyr Dany Chamoun and his family. Lebanon remains occupied, and the vast majority of its rulers, politicians, and political parties have been, and continue to be, Trojan collaborators who carry out the occupier’s orders while disregarding the interests of the nation and its people.
First came the Palestinian occupation, followed by the Syrian occupation, and then the cancer of Hezbollah and its godless masters, the mullahs of Iran. Today, as we commemorate the Aaichiye Massacre and the assassination of martyr Dany Chamoun and his family, we must recognize, with national and spiritual awareness, that Hezbollah has destroyed Lebanon, displaced its people, dismantled its institutions, and dragged the country — against the will of the majority of the Lebanese people — into a devastating war with Israel in the service of Iranian interests.
Despite all the losses and destruction, Hezbollah refuses to acknowledge defeat, surrender its weapons to the state, and abide by the ceasefire agreement, international resolutions, and the Constitution. History teaches us that nations whose people fail to nourish their homeland with generous and selfless sacrifices will see their landmarks collapse, their populations scattered, their identity marginalized, their history uprooted, and their dignity violated.
Holy Lebanon, blessed by God with young men and women who neither fear death nor hesitate to embrace martyrdom for their homeland, such as Dany Chamoun and his family, will endure. The forces of evil will never prevail over it. Martyrdom is born of faith and love: faith in a homeland and a cause, and love rooted in generosity and self-sacrifice, rising to the noble act of offering one’s own life for those one loves.
The martyrs are the beacon that illuminates our path to freedom and inspires us to continue Lebanon’s sacred mission of dignity and spiritual greatness. Today, as we remember the Aaichiye Massacre and the assassination of Dany Chamoun and his family, we affirm that our faith in God, in Lebanon, and in our right to live freely and with dignity requires us to endure pain and hardship. For societies can be built only through love, hope, and sacrifice — even unto martyrdom.
Many years have passed since the Aaichiye Massacre and the assassination of martyr Dany Chamoun and his family, yet these heinous crimes remain deeply engraved in the memories and hearts of Lebanon’s free and sovereign patriots. These atrocious crimes were committed by the Syrian occupier and his local mercenaries — godless agents and devils who willingly accepted the role of tools and subordinates. Tragically, some among our own people submitted meekly to the roles of Trojans and Judases, betraying the blood of the martyrs. They have become the moral, ethical, and national cancer that is ravaging our homeland and its people. These very same figures continue to control Lebanon’s political decisions and destiny, dragging the country toward the abyss of ruin and destruction, driven by hatred, resentment, and deep-seated bitterness.
Political leaders and the owners of counterfeit political parties who support the Iranian occupier, represented by its local terrorist arm, Hezbollah, have trampled upon the martyrs’ blood and joined the ranks of the submissive in pursuit of power and influence. They traded sovereignty for political seats and deliberately turned a blind eye to international resolutions concerning Lebanon.
The Aaichiye Massacre and the assassination of Dany Chamoun and his family continue to leave a bitter ache in our hearts and tears of sorrow in our eyes for those noble heroes who gave their lives for the Cedar Nation and its people. We must never forget, regardless of the hardships and sacrifices involved, that Lebanon is a sacred land, that its boundaries are recorded in the Holy Scriptures, that its land belongs to God, and that its name appears more than seventy-seven times in the books of the Old Testament.
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” (Psalm 92:12)
“His beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.” (Hosea 14:6)
In Islam, Lebanon is also accorded honor and reverence. A saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad states: “Three mountains are among the mountains of Paradise.” He was asked, “O Messenger of God, which mountains?” He replied: “Mount Uhud, which loves us and we love it; Mount Sinai, which is among the mountains of Paradise; and Mount Lebanon.”
Another saying states: “Had you asked us to name the seven mountains that bear the Throne on the Day of Judgment, Mount Lebanon would have been among them.”
Ka‘b al-Ahbar is also quoted as saying: “Mount Lebanon is one of the eight mountains that bear the Throne on the Day of Judgment,” without naming the other seven.
(As cited in The Name of Lebanon Through the Ages by historian Antoine Khoury Harb.)
In conclusion, freedom is a divine gift bestowed upon us by God so that we may be free in our words, actions, thoughts, and beliefs.
O Heavenly Father, grant us the gifts of steadfastness in our convictions and unwavering courage in bearing witness to the truth. Martyr Dany Chamoun, the martyrs of Aaichiye, and all the martyrs of our sacred Cedar Nation are the leaven of faith that continually transforms the dough of our homeland, planting within it the seeds of love, generosity, and hope.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

The Necessity of Ending Lebanon’s “Battleground” Status and Recognizing Israel
Elias Bejjani/October 20/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/01/151479/
As the saying goes, “Once the cause is known, wonder ceases.” The true tragedy of Lebanon is not merely its security, economic, or social collapse, but the suicidal persistence in remaining a perpetual “battleground” and a regional “mailbox.” The core cause of this national disintegration lies in the absence of faith among Lebanon’s ruling class: political leaders, party bosses turned corporate oligarchs, hypocritical Arabists, leftists, and self-proclaimed nationalists. They do not believe in the concept of the state, nor in Lebanon as a sovereign entity with a distinct role and mission. More dangerously, they lack the most basic standards of ethics and genuine patriotism.
The so-called “Resistance” in Lebanon was never a Lebanese project. It was a façade for cross-border agendas that transformed the country into a hostage. This tragic farce began in the late 1960s, when criminal and terrorist Palestinian organizations violated Lebanese sovereignty under the banner of “liberation.” They were assisted by the so-called “National Movement”—a coalition of leftists, Arabists, Baathists, and ideologues who harbored hostility toward Lebanon as a state, a message, and a beacon of freedom—thereby tearing apart the national fabric.
This was followed by the barbaric Syrian Baathist occupation, which imposed its tutelage under the same slogans and ushered in one of the darkest eras in Lebanon’s modern history. Since 2005, the Iranian-backed, sectarian, and reckless Hezbollah militia has tightened its grip on the Lebanese people, turning the South, the Suburbs, the Bekaa, and other regions into weapons depots, tunnel networks, and missile platforms serving the agenda of Tehran’s mullahs.
The insistence on keeping Lebanon in a permanent state of war with Israel—at a time when Arab states are negotiating, reconciling, and prioritizing their national interests—has produced devastating consequences:
The reduction of the state to mere “geography” used for settling the scores of others, led by Iran, Syria, and the local, regional, and international merchants of the “Resistance” illusion.
The impossibility of building a stable economy or attracting investment in a country held hostage by a trigger finger controlled by foreign powers, capable of igniting a war of total destruction at any moment.
Lebanon’s transformation into a “terrorist island” outside international legitimacy and the rule of law, depriving it of peace, sovereignty, independence, and development.
The entrenchment of a culture of death and war that drives Lebanon’s finest youth into exile, leaving the country to militias, mobs, and political opportunists.
Transitioning Lebanon into a “normal state” through mutual recognition between Lebanon and Israel is not an act of treason. On the contrary, it represents the highest form of patriotism and political realism. The benefits are clear and tangible:
Finalizing borders and dismantling the fabricated pretexts of the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba Hills, long exploited as an evil & fake tags “Shirt of Uthman” to justify the persistence of illegal weapons.
Securing safe investment in offshore gas and oil resources and opening the door to economic, commercial, and tourism cooperation in a region moving toward “zero problems.”
Ending the so-called “state of war,” thereby stripping all militias of any claimed legitimacy and restoring exclusive sovereign decision-making to the Lebanese Army.
Most importantly, halting Lebanon’s role as a “factory of death” and restoring its historic function as a cultural and civilizational bridge between East and West.
In conclusion, Lebanon’s recovery of its identity and sovereignty begins with full border control, strict adherence to international resolutions—including the latest ceasefire agreement—and the rejection of the false narrative that “Lebanon must always be the last to sign a peace accord with Israel.” Today, Lebanese citizens are called upon to break free from political herd mentality and the worship of “Iscariot” leaders who feast on national humiliation and Lebanese blood.
Liberating Lebanon from the grip of “Temple Traders” and the culture of appeasing the strong while shifting loyalties for personal gain requires the courage to speak a simple truth: we want a homeland, not a battleground; a state, not a private farm; and a just peace that ends nearly six decades of deception, false heroism, and revolutionary delusions. The solution lies in mutual recognition between Lebanon and the State of Israel,Under the auspices of the United Nations and the international community, Lebanon will return to being "a land of message, creativity, freedoms and stars," not "a land of graves."
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Lebanon's Justice Minister: Hezbollah Explosives Shipment a Violation of National Security
Beirut: Nazeer Rida/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Lebanon's Justice Minister Adel Nassar vowed to pursue an investigation into a shipment of Hezbollah explosives to the end, saying the probe was expanding as he pressed for the case to be referred to the Judicial Council on national security grounds. "There are no limits to the investigation," Nassar told Asharq Al-Awsat, insisting that political pressure would not interfere with the judiciary's work. Nassar said the scale of the case and the dangers posed by the explosives justified referring it to the Judicial Council, which handles cases involving state security. He stressed that the proposed referral would proceed separately from the ongoing investigation, expressing full confidence in the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation Judge Ahmad Rami al-Hajj and Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem. "The investigation is continuing and expanding," he said, citing commitments by President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Justice Ministry to ensure it proceeds without limits or political interference. "This is fundamental to us," Nassar said. "We consider it a violation of national security, which falls within the Judicial Council's jurisdiction."He insisted the proposed referral rested on legal, not political, grounds. Nassar said he raised the issue at the previous cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail, winning support from ministers affiliated with the Lebanese Forces. He subsequently filed a request with the cabinet's General Secretariat to place the referral on the agenda of Thursday's meeting at the presidential palace, chaired by Aoun. The move would establish two parallel tracks: the ongoing judicial investigation and a separate judicial-administrative process requiring cabinet approval to transfer the case to the Judicial Council.
If approved, the military judiciary would relinquish jurisdiction and the case would automatically pass to the Judicial Council. Nassar said the constitution governed cabinet deliberations and that the referral would not obstruct the investigation. "We are open to discussion in the cabinet, in accordance with constitutional rules, until the government reaches its decision," he said. Nassar warned that the shipment posed serious risks, both because of the dangers of transporting and storing large quantities of explosives and the uncertainty surrounding their intended use.
Moving such quantities threatened the areas they passed through and their destinations, he said, while storing them in a populated area endangered residents. He also raised concerns that the explosives could be linked to a broader operation. "There are suspicions about their intended use, whether for assassinations or bombings inside the country," he said, stressing that investigators had yet to establish their intended purpose. A third possibility was their use in military operations, he added, citing Hezbollah's statements that the explosives were intended for fighting Israel.
Nassar said either domestic attacks or military operations could threaten national security.
"The cabinet has been clear in its decisions prohibiting military and armed activities outside the framework of the state," he said. "Whether intended for use inside Lebanon or in military operations that could provide pretexts for Israeli wars against Lebanon, both constitute a threat to national and state security and a violation of applicable laws." Hezbollah supporters on a motorcycle procession in the Bechara El Khoury area of Beirut on Friday evening, protesting the arrest of those involved in transporting explosives (Al-Markazia) Figures close to Hezbollah have attacked the proposed referral, but Nassar rejected political confrontation, insisting the case must be handled on its legal merits. Technically, he said, the investigation concerns the seizure, transportation and storage of explosives and determining their intended use — matters that provide legal grounds for referral to the Judicial Council. He dismissed concerns that transferring the case could water down the investigation. "The judiciary will pursue the investigation to the end in accordance with established procedures. We have complete confidence in the judges and the investigations," he said.
Political disputes, however intense, would not prevent investigators from expanding the probe or taking the steps necessary to address the dangers the explosives posed to society and security, he added. Nassar also pledged to protect judges from political interference or pressure, regardless of its source or whether it was intended to influence their work positively or negatively. "There is absolutely no political direction being given to the judiciary in this case or any other," he said. Nassar defended the investigation and proposed referral despite Hezbollah's objections, including criticism voiced by its lawmakers last week after the explosives were seized.He pointed to the government's policy statement, which identifies exclusive state control over weapons and the authority to decide on war and peace as conditions for building state institutions.
"The state is building itself," he said. "What we are doing is a judicial process conducted in accordance with applicable laws. I do not interfere in the substance of investigations. My duty is to create the appropriate conditions for judges to pursue any case to the end."

Netanyahu vows to 'sever head of octopus' and 'its arms Hamas and Hezbollah'
Naharnet/October 22/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he would inform U.S. President Donald Trump of what Israel intends to do, but will not ask him for a green light to strike Iran. Netanyahu added that he had issued a directive stating that "the only acceptable solution is the overthrow of the fanatical regime in Iran." He said that Israel has "crushed its adversaries" in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Tehran, and Iran itself, considering that it has “completed 90 percent of the mission, with 10 percent remaining.” Speaking at an officer graduation ceremony, he added: "There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all: overthrowing the regime in Iran. These are my instructions to the IDF (Israeli army), Mossad, and the security agencies."Referring to the Iranian supreme leader, Netanyahu stated: "The regime in Iran has not yet learned the lesson. Mojtaba Khamenei, the tyrant of our era, has decided to follow in his father's footsteps."Netanyahu noted that "as long as Iran seeks to destroy Israel, an existential threat will remain, and Trump, my close friend, shares this view." He added that they "will sever the head of the octopus as well as its arms -- namely Hamas and Hezbollah."

Will Israel’s war with Hezbollah cost Netanyahu votes in the north?
LBCI/October 22/2026
As Israel’s Oct. 27 elections approach, residents of Kiryat Shmona, a town near the Lebanese border that has borne the brunt of the war with Hezbollah, face a key question: Will the conflict shape their vote? Residents of northern Israel account for around 17% of the country’s voters, making them an important constituency for both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition. In the 2022 elections, Netanyahu’s Likud party won around 50% of the vote in Kiryat Shmona, 44% in Shlomi and 39% in Nahariyya. The strong support in these towns helped Netanyahu form the coalition that brought him to power. Today, the conflict with Hezbollah could change voters’ calculations. Residents of the north want security guarantees to prevent a repeat of attacks from Lebanon, along with compensation, reconstruction and a return to normal life in their towns. A poll conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and published by Reuters in May showed that support for Netanyahu’s Likud party in the north had fallen from 35% to 23%. Around 70% of respondents also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the war in Lebanon. The conflict in Lebanon has therefore become part of the election campaign.
Netanyahu is trying to convince northern residents that he has weakened Hezbollah and can protect them. Meanwhile, his rival Gadi Eisenkot is calling for greater freedom for the Israeli military to strike Hezbollah. He has criticized Netanyahu, saying the goal of eliminating the military threat to northern Israel has not been achieved. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who has allied with Yair Lapid, has accused Netanyahu’s government of returning to a policy of containing Hezbollah and failing to restore security to the north. Some far-right parties, meanwhile, are calling for Israel to take control of additional territory in Lebanon. The question remains: Will northern residents vote for Netanyahu because they believe he has protected them, or punish him at the ballot box because they still do not feel safe?

Israel faces accusations over potential Iran strike ahead of elections
LBCI/October 22/2026
Will Israel launch an attack on Iran before the elections scheduled for Oct. 27, less than a week from now? The question has sparked a confrontation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on one side, and the Israeli opposition on the other, following revelations about plans for a joint Israeli-U.S. attack on Iran based on intelligence suggesting that Tehran is preparing to strike Israel. While assessments suggest that the joint attack would take place after the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for Nov. 3, concerns are growing that Tehran could launch a preemptive strike against Israel. Military and security officials have warned Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the heads of the security agencies against carrying out any attack on Iran before the elections. The warning was conveyed in a letter to Zamir amid a climate of distrust toward several senior security officials and concerns that they may yield to Netanyahu’s demands. “Netanyahu is a sick and weak leader, willing to risk Israel’s security to save himself. He has no legitimacy to drag Israel into a military confrontation for political and personal reasons on the eve of the elections.” Opposition party leaders leveled these and other accusations against the prime minister after Katz held the opposition responsible for any attack on Israel. Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party and one of Netanyahu’s fiercest rivals, said Katz was attempting to evade responsibility for any future security incident and shift the blame for the next disaster onto others, describing the move as an unprecedented political decline.

Nassar: Hezbollah explosives probe expanding, file must be referred to Judicial Council
Naharnet/October 22/2026
Minister of Justice Adel Nassar has said that the investigation into the file of Hezbollah's explosives shipment "is ongoing and expanding,” in line with “the commitments of President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Ministry of Justice that there is no ceiling on the investigations, and no political interference to influence them." In an interview with Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Nassar pointed out that the request to refer the file to the Judicial Council "will be a path independent of the current judicial investigations and procedures, in which we have full confidence," emphasizing "our full trust in the judges handling the investigations, namely Public Prosecutor Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj and Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem."
"This matter is fundamental for us," Nassar added, clarifying that the request for referral to the Judicial Council "stems from the size of the file and its risks, as we view it as an assault on national security, and this falls within the jurisdiction of the Judicial Council." He stressed that the criteria for requesting the referral "stem from the realm of law, not politics." Nassar noted that he raised the issue during the previous cabinet session, receiving support from ministers affiliated with the Lebanese Forces. He later submitted a request to register it with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers to place it on the agenda for Thursday's session. Nassar emphasized that the Constitution "sets the rules for debate within the Council of Ministers, and the matter in no way implies any obstruction of the investigations." He added: "We are open to discussion in the Council of Ministers, in accordance with constitutional rules, until the Council of Ministers reaches its decision." He maintained that this file must reach the stage of being referred to the Judicial Council "because it is associated with significant risks," explaining that transporting and storing a large quantity of explosives "involves direct dangers to the areas from which and to which they are moved, just as storing them poses a danger to residents of a populated area." On the other hand, it "involves risks of being linked to a larger project," pointing to "suspicions regarding the intended purpose of their use -- either in executing assassinations, carrying out domestic bombings, or in acts of war."
"The Council of Ministers is clear in its decisions prohibiting military and armed acts outside the state framework," Nassar said. He added: "In both cases --whether the intended use was internally or in military actions that create pretexts for (Israeli) wars against Lebanon -- it constitutes an infringement on national and state security and a violation of the laws in force."

Lebanon’s president calls for restraint amid regional tensions, reaffirms solidarity with Saudi Arabia
LBCI/October 22/2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for restraint amid rising regional tensions, reaffirmed Lebanon’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and urged the government to address key issues during remarks at the start of a Cabinet meeting. Aoun praised Lebanon’s health minister for his efforts to combat counterfeit and smuggled medicines. He also commended the security agencies for their efforts to maintain security across the country, particularly in combating terrorism, drugs, arms smuggling and crime, despite mounting economic pressures. Aoun described the security agencies as the backbone and a fundamental pillar of the state, saying they deserved the country’s support. The president also praised Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri for his position on preserving the Lebanese army as a red line, safeguarding civil peace and promoting dialogue and understanding, which he described as the best way to protect and save Lebanon. Aoun warned that the region faces significant challenges and expressed hope that developments would not lead to further escalation. He urged Lebanese political forces to exercise wisdom, awareness, and restraint to shield the country from regional fallout, given its already difficult economic conditions. He called on ministers and political officials to act responsibly to prevent any regional crisis from destabilizing Lebanon. Aoun also reiterated Lebanon’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of attacks and any threats to its sovereignty, security and citizens. He said contacts were underway to facilitate the return of Saudi flights and tourists to Lebanon. On energy, Aoun thanked Qatar for its efforts to help Lebanon and called for a Cabinet meeting to address the energy and environmental files.

Salam warns unauthorized weapons storage and transport threaten public safety
LBCI/October 22/2026
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed that the state must have exclusive authority over weapons and decisions of war and peace, warning that the storage or transport of arms by unauthorized parties threatens public safety and must be met with legal action. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Salam said the state’s exclusive control over weapons was enshrined in Lebanon’s Constitution and laws. He stressed that only the Lebanese army, Internal Security Forces, General Security, State Security, Lebanese Customs and municipal police are legally authorized to carry weapons in Lebanon. Salam said the provision was explicitly included in the original text of the cessation of hostilities agreement, approved by the previous government and reaffirmed by the current government in its policy statement and subsequent decisions. The word “exclusively,” he added, was part of the original text and had not been added later by any party.Salam noted that the government had asked the army to prepare a plan to implement the state’s exclusive control over weapons. The prime minister warned that storing or transporting weapons outside the legally authorized institutions, regardless of the justification, violated the country’s laws and Cabinet decisions, endangered public safety and threatened citizens’ security. He called for security investigations and judicial prosecution, with offenders facing the full penalties prescribed by law.“No one can impose limits on us beyond those set by the law, and nothing takes precedence over the safety of the country and the security of its citizens,” Salam said.Addressing a separate agenda item concerning a proposal to refer the case of explosives seized in the Dahr al-Baidar and al-Qasr areas to the Judicial Council, Salam said he had deliberately not circulated the draft decree with the Cabinet agenda to prevent discussions from beginning outside the Cabinet meeting. He said he would ask the secretary-general to read the draft aloud when the item was discussed. On electricity, Salam announced significant progress in talks with Qatar over a framework proposal to address Lebanon’s power crisis.
He described the Qatari proposal as a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate, develop and modernize electricity-generation infrastructure across different energy sources. The project would follow a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with Qatari entities responsible for financing, implementation and operation, without requiring an upfront investment from the Lebanese treasury. Salam said the arrangement could provide electricity at lower costs for consumers and under more stable conditions. Energy Minister Joe Saddi and his technical team are reviewing the project’s technical details, which will be submitted to the Cabinet for discussion and a decision once all elements are finalized. Salam noted that resolving the electricity crisis required more than increasing generation, and also depended on improving distribution and bill collection. He said he would coordinate with Saddi to convene a Cabinet session dedicated exclusively to the electricity file within the next two weeks.

Lebanon's Economy Minister reports 19,400 consumer inspections since start of year
LBCI/October 22/2026
Economy and Trade Minister Amer Bisat said Thursday that consumer protection inspectors have carried out around 19,400 field inspections since the beginning of the year and issued more than 1,000 judicial reports. Speaking at Baabda Palace, Bisat said a new consumer protection law would strengthen efforts to combat rising prices and monopolistic practices by increasing fines and speeding up judicial procedures. He also said a monitoring campaign targeting private electricity generators is ongoing, with authorities having conducted around 800 inspections and carried out 64 seizures.
“We will continue monitoring and holding violators accountable to protect citizens from exploitation,” Bisat said.

Lebanese Forces ministers walk out of Cabinet over failure to refer explosives case to Judicial Council
LBCI/October 22/2026
Lebanese Forces ministers walked out of a Cabinet session in protest over the failure to refer the case involving seized explosives to the Judicial Council. Speaking after the walkout, Minister Joe Issa el-Khoury said the ministers withdrew because the case had not been referred to the council, arguing that there was no need to wait for the investigation to proceed further, as the party involved had already identified itself. El-Khoury said the ministers presented the Cabinet with a list of cases that had been referred to the Judicial Council within a day or two of the incidents, noting that nearly three weeks had passed since the explosives case occurred.

Report: Iran says doesn't need Hezbollah support in new war
Naharnet/October 22/2026
Speaker Nabih Berri has relayed recent warnings from foreign visitors to Hezbollah, urging the Iran-backed party to refrain from military involvement in the event of a new war on Tehran, a source directly involved in the U.S.-sponsored Lebanese–Israeli negotiations said.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for his part met behind closed doors with MP Mohammad Raad of Hezbollah during his latest visit to Lebanon, and the lawmaker expressed Hezbollah’s “openness and flexibility,” noting that the group does not intend to resort to escalation, the source told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. The source also revealed that during meeting with a number of MPs belonging to the Shiite Duo during his recent visit to Beirut, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh anticipated a renewal of the war between Tehran and Washington. According to the MPs, Khatibzadeh noted that his expectation was not baseless and that the likelihood of a renewed confrontation between Iran and the United States is far higher than betting on the success of mediation to resume U.S.-Iranian dialogue.
"For our part, we keep our hands on the trigger to respond if targeted, and we will not remain silent regarding Israel should it decide to support Washington," Khatibzadeh reportedly stated. He emphasized to the MPs: "You are not required to intervene to assist us; we possess enough strength and resilience in the face of aggression to defend our land on our own. Furthermore, we will not agree to end the war and establish a ceasefire unless it includes Lebanon and opens the door to implementing the terms outlined in the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding."Khatibzadeh reportedly continued that Iranian experts are "working day and night to develop and strengthen our defensive capabilities,” adding that “Washington will be surprised not only by our ability to endure, but also by our response to aggression through strikes against the Americans that ... will come as a surprise to them."

Israeli strikes target Kfartebnit, al-Qantara
Naharnet/October 22/2026
Israeli strikes targeted Thursday Kfartebnit and al-Qantara in southern Lebanon while artillery shelled al-Mansouri, Wadi Zebqine, and Mazraat Bouyout al-Siyyad. Israeli forces meanwhile carried out detonations in Bani Hayyan and Markaba and advanced toward al-Hebbarieh. Detonations were carried out overnight in Kfartebnit and strikes targered Hadatha and Wadi Slouqi.

Will Cabinet refer Hezbollah explosives case to Judicial Council?
Naharnet/October 22/2026
Cabinet will meet at 3:00 PM today, Thursday, at the Presidential Palace. The agenda includes a request from the Ministry of Justice to refer the case of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities last week to the Judicial Council. The explosives belonged to Hezbollah, and the group stated they were intended for use against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Local media reported Thursday that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri advised Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun against referring the case to the Judicial Council — the country’s highest criminal court handling national security issues. Berri sought to postpone discussing the explosives case until investigations are completed, but Salam insisted on keeping it on the agenda, Lebanese newspaper Nidaa al-Watan reported. However, pro-Hezbollah newspaper al-Akhbar stated that both Aoun and Salam were responsive and considered either withdrawing the item from the agenda or moving it to the end of the session to avoid a vote. Nidaa al-Watan reported that if a vote occurs, a majority of ministers would likely vote in favor of referring the case, including ministers representing the President, the Prime Minister, the Lebanese Forces, and the Kataeb Party. The Progressive Socialist Party has not yet finalized its position, according to the daily. Ministers from the Amal Movement are leaning toward objecting, though Berri confirmed they will not walk out of the session, while Hezbollah's reaction has not been clear yet. Berri expressed deep concern over the general situation in the country, saying in an interview with Sawt Kol Lobnan that Amal ministers will participate in the cabinet session. He voiced his support for Lebanon's army — tasked with dismantling Hezbollah's weapons in southern Lebanon. "The army is a red line," he said.

Berri calls for national unity, cautions against escalation over Hezbollah explosives
Naharnet/October 22/2026
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri believes Lebanon is in dire need of unity. In remarks published Thursday in al-Joumhouria, he called on the Lebanese people to unite and avoid provocative or sectarian speech. Berri said the situation in the country is "delicate" and demands a great deal of awareness, wisdom, and genuine partnership among all domestic components.He noted that France's support for Lebanon is sincere, though "the international climate, unfortunately, is working against them." Additionally, the daily reported that Berri advised Prime Minister Nawaf Salam against referring the case of Hezbollah's confiscated explosives to the Judicial Council — the country’s highest criminal court handling national security issues. Cabinet will meet at 3:00 PM Thursday at the Presidential Palace. The agenda includes a request from the Ministry of Justice to refer the explosives case to the Judicial Council.

SEAL California rallies for Lebanon at gala blending tech and violin
Naharnet/October 22/2026
The San Francisco chapter of SEAL (Social and Economic Action for Lebanon) once again turned out for Lebanon on Sunday, October 18, 2026, raising close to $800,000 for Lebanese farmers at its annual benefit gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto. The nonprofit has worked from the U.S. East Coast for more than a quarter century, and this year marked its fifth consecutive gala in California. More than 200 guests and donors filled the ballroom, hosted by Roula Tamer, chair of SEAL’s board of directors, alongside fellow board members and the event committee. The evening showcased two sides of Lebanese talent: technology, represented by entrepreneur Fadi Daou, and culture, brought to the stage by violinist Maria Bassil, whose program moved between French, English and Arabic music.
Honoring a Veteran Entrepreneur -
Each year, SEAL honors a Lebanese figure who shares its mission, excels in their field and raises Lebanon’s profile. This year, the organization chose Fadi Daou. A serial entrepreneur with nearly four decades of experience in optical and electrical engineering, Daou has built his career around making a difference at home. While many Lebanese look abroad for their future, the founder and CEO of MultiLane has gone the other way, placing his company’s main design and manufacturing center in his home village of Houmal. The move gives young engineers an international career without having to emigrate.
“Above all, it’s about creating jobs so our children can come back and build their careers at home,” Daou said. He sums up the philosophy in four words: “Export products, not people.”Daou’s ambitions go beyond slowing the brain drain. He aims to make Lebanon a global technology hub, and has expanded local opportunities through the Houmal Technology Park, an innovation center that brings together offices, a startup incubator, an applied training center, research labs and a program to grow the next generation of venture-backed Lebanese tech startups. In recognition, SEAL presented him with its 2026 SEAL Award for lifetime achievement. “We are honoring a leader whose vision has proven that investing in human capital can transform an entire community,” board member Khaled Nasr said as he presented the award. Daou’s path, the organization noted, mirrors SEAL’s own mission: betting on Lebanon’s potential so that talent, opportunity and prosperity take root at home.
In his speech, Fadi Daou reveals the four pillars of sustainable impact in Lebanon that he seeks to generate, notably through human development, education, and the creation of local opportunities.“We've completed the law of the Special Economic Zone that's going to make Lebanon very competitive,” he notes. “We won't have to worry about customs, what would be a free zone status, employment at will, that will make Lebanon super competitive and attractive for anyone to set up shop there.” Daou also outlines the second pillar: “We're developing campuses throughout the country that will be able to house 10,000 people, with a new factory of hyperscale capacity of 30,000 square meters to be ready in Q1.”The third focus is building the ecosystem and forging international partnerships, notably a partnership with Teradyne and an upcoming Q1 joint venture with an interconnect company to build hyperscale interconnect products for the AI market at the Safra Technology Park. The fourth pillar is “investing in human resource development by offering training through universities and partnering with the René Moawad Foundation (RMF),” as well as launching “LCH: Lebanon Calls You Home,” a program to bring back young professionals in their early-to-mid career, featuring a December event in Houmal to create jobs and build a better future in Lebanon. In her own speech, Tamer described SEAL’s mission as centered on food security and built on four pillars: “water and irrigation, support for farmers, stronger food production, and investment in human capital.”
Investment, Not Charity -
Tamer set the tone early: this was not a conversation about charity. “Our model is driven by local demand,” she said. Cooperatives, municipalities and nongovernmental organizations come to SEAL with a specific need, and SEAL funds the equipment that helps them earn a living, from water reservoirs and solar pumps to shared tractors and food-processing machinery. “We evaluate these projects as investments, not donations,” she said, adding that the organization selects projects that strengthen livelihoods, generate income and create jobs. Turning to the 200 guests, she added: “Your support isn’t charity either. It’s an investment in Lebanon’s dignity, resilience and future.”Tamer also highlighted a feature that sets SEAL apart: its board covers all operating costs, so every dollar donated goes directly to projects on the ground. Over 29 years, the organization said, it has raised $20.5 million and funded more than 280 economic development projects across Lebanon.
A Violin That Lit Up the Room -
The evening’s other highlight was Las Vegas-based violinist Maria Bassil, known for her magnetic stage presence and her blend of elegance and skill. She did not disappoint. Moving easily between classical, Middle Eastern and international hits, Bassil carried the audience back to Lebanon. Guests, stirred by nostalgia for home, were soon dancing around their tables.
Elegance, emotion and enthusiasm made for a memorable night.

Jumblatt warns of Assad-era ties in Lebanon’s security services
The Arab Weekly/October 22/2026
Jumblatt’s remarks raise a legitimate question about the political leadership’s ability to ensure a unified security command. Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt has brought the question of loyalties within Lebanon’s security services back into focus, warning of the continued presence of officers linked to Syria’s former regime and inadequate coordination between Beirut and Damascus. His remarks come as Lebanon and Syria seek to strengthen security cooperation and the Lebanese state faces the challenge of asserting its authority over weapons and security decisions, amid an ongoing dispute with Hezbollah over its disarmament. In an interview with LBCI’s “Twenty Thirty” programme on October 19, Jumblatt said the discovery of explosives in Dhahr al-Baydar had exposed what he saw as a lack of coordination between the Lebanese and Syrian authorities. He attributed this to the refusal of some Lebanese security agencies to cooperate with their Syrian counterparts. He also raised the question of former Syrian regime officers remaining in Lebanon, saying the General Security Directorate and the political leadership responsible for the security agencies should explain their whereabouts and status. The continued presence of some officers and others associated with the era of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, he added, posed a serious problem if it reflected the authorities’ inability to exercise control over state institutions.
Jumblatt’s reference to Dhahr al-Baydar concerns explosives seized by Lebanese security agencies, a case that has prompted questions about the shipment’s ownership and intended purpose. On October 15, Reuters reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had asked Lebanese President Joseph Aoun not to return the confiscated explosives to Hezbollah and had stressed the need to hold those involved in transporting them accountable. The US official said Aoun had reaffirmed the commitment of the Lebanese army and security agencies to preventing armed displays, confiscating illegal weapons and combating smuggling. The case highlights the sensitivity of law enforcement in Lebanon, where efforts to enforce state authority intersect with political disputes over Hezbollah’s weapons. It does not, in itself, establish the existence of a rebellion within the security services or institutional refusal to carry out state decisions.
Questions over former Assad-era officers
Jumblatt’s warning about former Syrian regime officers comes against the backdrop of concerns that have persisted since Assad’s fall in December 2024. The presence of former officials and military officers in Lebanon has raised fears that Lebanese territory could be used to rebuild networks linked to the former regime or to organise activities threatening stability in Syria. In January, Reuters reported that Damascus had asked Beirut for help establishing the whereabouts of former officers who had fled to Lebanon. Lebanese officials said security contacts had addressed the issue, although no publicly available evidence established that all those officers were planning to destabilise Syria. A September report by The National described the dismantling of a cell whose members were accused of planning attacks inside Syria, in an operation coordinated between Lebanese and Syrian security agencies. Local reports said one of the suspects was an officer who had served in the intelligence services under Assad, while some members of the cell may have received training from Hezbollah. A Lebanese security source told the newspaper, however, that investigators had not established who was behind the group or where its members had been trained.The case points to genuine security concerns requiring investigation, but it does not justify generalising accusations to Lebanon’s security institutions or treating every officer who served under the former Syrian regime as part of an illegal network.
State authority and Hezbollah’s weapons
The implications of the issue extend beyond Lebanon’s relations with Damascus to the state’s ability to implement its plan to place weapons under the control of official institutions. In August 2025, the Lebanese government tasked the army with drawing up a plan to bring all weapons under state control. The government approved the army’s framework in September, amid questions about the military’s capabilities and continued Israeli operations. Hezbollah rejected disarmament, arguing that the focus on its weapons served Israel’s interests. The group has maintained that any implementation must be linked to a halt in Israeli attacks and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. Against this backdrop, Jumblatt’s remarks raise a legitimate question about the political leadership’s ability to ensure a unified security command. But the answer depends on more than the loyalties of individual officers. Implementing the weapons-control plan requires clear orders, coordination between the army and security agencies, sufficient operational capabilities and political agreement on the plan’s objectives and stages. It is also necessary to distinguish between an openly stated political rejection of disarmament and any potential obstruction of lawful orders from within state institutions. The latter cannot be established through general statements alone, without documented evidence or investigations.
Coordination with Damascus under scrutiny
Security coordination with Syria is also directly relevant to controlling the border, preventing smuggling and pursuing networks operating across national boundaries. The operation described by The National demonstrated that cooperation between Lebanese and Syrian agencies is possible in specific cases, even as concerns persist about people linked to the former Syrian regime. If some Lebanese agencies are refusing to coordinate with their Syrian counterparts, as Jumblatt alleged, the reasons would need to be clarified officially. Authorities would have to establish whether the problem stems from a security assessment, an administrative disagreement or a breach of political directives. Ultimately, Jumblatt has reopened a debate about the Lebanese state’s authority over its own security institutions, its ability to manage security relations with Syria and its capacity to implement domestic decisions. The central test is not whether broad accusations about loyalties are made, but whether the authorities can provide documented answers about the whereabouts of former Syrian officers, the obstacles to cooperation with Damascus and the extent to which security institutions comply with lawful orders. Bringing weapons under state control and rebuilding trust with Syria require institutions operating within a clear chain of command and subject to accountability, without allowing political suspicions to become premature judgements.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 22-23/2026 (Some of the News reports below are translated from Arabic by AI)
Trump says something will happen regarding Iran ‘fairly soon’
Al Arabiya English/22 October/,2026
US President Donald said on Thursday that something was going to happen regarding the Iranian conflict “fairly soon” amid fear of renewed escalation. Trump also said that he doesn’t think that the US was negotiating with Iran. “I think we are not negotiating,” Trump told reporters when asked about the status of talks. “We’re gonna have something one way or the other that’ll happen fairly soon. Most people seem to think it’s after the election, and we’re going to see what happens,” he added. “We’re doing very well militarily and financially against Iran,” he told reporters.
His comments came amid heightened fear of a renewed conflict with Iran amid an anticipation for the upcoming Israeli elections and the US midterms. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the Israeli military to plan for resumed strikes against Iran earlier this month, according to sources cited by the Financial Times on Wednesday, but Trump reportedly objected to the idea.

Trump: Iran is Trying to Drive Up Oil Prices Before Midterm Elections
Washington/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran was doing all it could ⁠to drive up ⁠the price of oil before ⁠the US midterm elections. "They are even making up fake hits, mines, and everything else," he said ⁠in ⁠a Truth Social post. Iran's state television reported on Thursday that seven oil tankers were either struck by attacks or hit naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, possibly the largest single-day number of vessels damaged in the waterway since the Iran war started on Feb. 28. Quoting a statement by the Revolutionary Guard's navy, the Iranian report said four of the tankers were transferring oil when they were targeted and caught fire. Three more were damaged and immobilized after hitting naval mines. The report didn't provide details about possible casualties or the tankers' flags. Oil prices climbed about 2% to a five-month high on Thursday.
Brent futures rose $2.42, or 2.2%, to $111.24 a barrel at 10:45 a.m. EDT (1445 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.14, or 1.2%, to $98.29.That drove Brent into technically overbought territory for a third time in a week and set for its highest close since May 18.

Report: Trump’s Son ‘Expressed Private Concerns About Iran War to his Father’
Washington/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Donald Trump Jr has reportedly privately expressed concerns about the war in Iran to his father, The Telegraph wrote on Wednesday quoting reports. The US president’s eldest son opposed the war from the outset and made his opinions known to his father, two sources told The Atlantic. He believed the US should not enter another war in the Middle East, consistent with his long-standing skepticism of foreign intervention. “Don has kept his views on the subject private, as he would never publicly break with his dad on an issue like this, but I can’t imagine anyone who knows Don would be surprised by his personal views on the subject,” a person close to the president’s son said.
‘America First’ Friction
The president’s decision to align himself with Israel in the war against Tehran has caused a rift within his Maga base, which believes the conflict flies in the face of the “America First” position they voted for.Vice President JD Vance is widely understood to be against the war. Like Trump, he has a long-standing history of skepticism toward military intervention in the Middle East, though his role shifted when the US launched military strikes on Feb 28. Charlie Kirk, the conservative political activist who was assassinated last year, was among the loudest voices in Maga to oppose a conflict in the Middle East, particularly after Trump first launched strikes on Iran in June 2025. Trump Jr was exceptionally close to Kirk, whom he described as a “little brother.”“Don Jr is the most Maga of them all,” one of the people who spoke with Trump said.
The Cost of Conflict
High fuel prices caused by a global diesel shortage resulting from the conflict have made it harder for the US president and his ⁠Republican Party to defend narrow congressional majorities in the upcoming midterm elections. As the specter of a painful election looms, the White House has tried to lower costs to appeal to voters, who rank the cost of living as one of their highest priorities. A spokesman for Trump declined to comment to The Atlantic. The White House official told the magazine in a statement: “Iran has been decimated, and one way or the other, the conflict in Iran will be over very soon.”

Iran’s IRGC threaten to hit US bases in retaliation for Hormuz escorts
AFP/22 October/2026
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday threatened to strike American bases across the Middle East if the US military continues to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. “The US military must know that if this trend continues, the conflict will extend to its bases in the region,” the IRGC, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, said in a statement on their Sepah News website. “This is a serious warning,” they added. Iran claims control over Hormuz, a strategic shipping route through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies passed before war broke out in February.It regularly attacks ships that attempt to navigate the strait without its authorization. But the US military has been escorting vessels through the waterway in increasing numbers, with Iran responding by stepping up attacks. Four ships were hit in the area overnight as they attempted to pass through the wider Gulf, Iranian forces said on Thursday. Washington has also been maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to squeeze the country’s economy, while negotiations to end the conflict are deadlocked. Hormuz, bordered to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman, is only about 30 kilometers (19 miles) wide at its narrowest point and is a critical route for ships carrying oil and gas from Gulf countries.

Iran warns US data centers, AI facilities could be targeted if war resumes
Al Arabiya English/22 October/2026
Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that US-linked data centers, artificial intelligence facilities and other technological infrastructure in the region could be targeted if Washington launched another attack against Iran. Rezaei told Iran’s state-run Press TV that more than $2 trillion worth of US-linked technology infrastructure in the region could be at risk if hostilities resumed. “The pulse of the American economy in this region runs through our part of the world,” he said, pointing to major US investments in data centers and artificial intelligence facilities across the Middle East. “We have not yet included these assets among our targets. But if war breaks out, many of these cables, data centers, artificial intelligence facilities, and numerous other sites will be destroyed,” Rezaei warned.The comments signal a potential expansion of targets to include critical technology and communications infrastructure in the event of renewed conflict with the US.

Iranian Lawmaker Threatens to Close Border with Pakistan
London/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
An Iranian lawmaker has threatened to close the land border with Pakistan if Islamabad continues to block trucks arriving from Iran, as hundreds of trucks remain stranded at border crossings following the suspension of trade between the two countries. Fadahossein Maleki, head of the Iran-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, told the reformist ILNA news agency on Thursday that the border had been reopened "unilaterally.""If this situation continues, Iran will certainly close the border on its side," he said. Maleki explained that after following up with authorities in Iran's Baluchestan region, he learned that trucks stranded in Pakistan were being allowed to enter Iran, but traffic from Iran into Pakistan "remains blocked."He said he had discussed the issue with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during Munir's visit to Tehran. According to Maleki, Munir "issued orders from here in Tehran to open the border," while Pakistani officials attributed the restrictions to a "technical problem." Maleki, who also serves on the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, claimed that the developments were part of "US political pressure on neighboring countries to restrict or close their borders and limit trade and economic relations" with Iran. "We never expected anything like this from our Pakistani friends, nor did we expect them to be influenced by American pressure," he said. He offered no evidence to support the alleged connection. Maleki called for Pakistan's ambassador to appear before parliament "as soon as possible," alongside provincial officials, to resolve the outstanding issues. He also referred to similar "fluctuations" along Iran's border with Iraq, saying it had previously been closed "under pressure" before reopening.He noted that these issues were now being raised in connection with the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.
Trucks Stranded at Border
Hundreds of trucks remained stranded Wednesday on the Pakistani side of border crossings with Iran following the suspension of bilateral trade, according to a local official and business representatives who spoke to AFP. An AFP journalist at the Gabd-Rimdan crossing in southwestern Pakistan observed hundreds of heavy trucks loaded with goods bound for Iran, while drivers complained of waiting for days. Driver Abdul Ghani, 28, said truckers were facing "extreme difficulties.""We have no drinking water and no proper facilities for food or other basic necessities," he said. Another driver, Azeem Khan, 32, said everyone was suffering, particularly Baloch traders and workers. "People's losses are increasing day by day," he added. An official in Pakistan's Balochistan province, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the border had been closed to trade for five days, with all goods bound for Iran barred from crossing. However, some trucks carrying goods through Iran to Central Asia or Türkiye were allowed to cross on Wednesday. Provincial official Shahid Rind had said Saturday that the closure was "temporary" and intended to "address security concerns" and "curb smuggling." Shamsul Haq, a trader from the city of Gwadar, said Pakistani importers and exporters had suffered "losses amounting to billions of rupees."
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
Munir's Visit
Munir, whose country is serving as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, told Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf during his visit Tuesday that the border problems were "temporary and technical" and that the crossings had "reopened as of today."Munir also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, who told him that Iran would not proceed with negotiations with Washington until "trust is built."Iranian authorities had announced last Saturday that Pakistan had closed the Rimdan-Gabd crossing to commercial activity while allowing passenger traffic to continue. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei attributed the suspension of border crossings and trade to "technical problems" and "precautionary measures."Peyman Sanandaji, head of the Transportation Committee at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, said Iranian exports to Pakistan had been temporarily suspended because of sanctions on Iran's banking system. He added that imports from Pakistan remained possible, but their continuation depended on cooperation from the Pakistani side.
A Land Blockade?
Iran's land crossings have become increasingly important amid the US naval blockade of its ports. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), said that apart from humanitarian assistance authorized by Washington, Iran had no imports or exports moving by sea.
The US Treasury Department has warned foreign financial institutions against conducting transactions with sanctioned Iranian banks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington would maintain "extraordinary economic pressure" to cut off funding for Tehran's regional allies and its military production. ILNA questioned whether US pressure had "extended to land routes" connecting Iran with its neighbors, amid restrictions at the Pakistani border and reports of possible limitations on crossings with Iraq. However, the agency acknowledged that the announced restrictions "do not, on their own, prove the existence of a coordinated plan to impose a land blockade."

Iran's Parliament Speaker Meets Supreme Leader to Discuss War Impact
London/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei met on Wednesday with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to review the latest developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran. “The meeting discussed the latest developments in the US-Israeli enemy’s military and economic warfare and stressed the need to strengthen the country’s national capabilities," a statement published on the leader's website said. This was the first publicly announced meeting of its kind between Mojtaba Khamenei and Ghalibaf, whose influence has expanded following the recent war. The two sides addressed maintaining social cohesion, tackling economic difficulties and “advancing relations with strategic partners,” the statement added. They also discussed improving cooperation between the government and parliament to address economic and livelihood challenges.
Qalibaf briefed Khamenei on parliamentary activities since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28 and outlined ongoing and future plans to address the country’s challenges.
Continuous Absence
Mojtaba has not made a public appearance since succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei, on March 8, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28.The Supreme Leader has only communicated through written statements, while his absence from public view has fueled speculation about his health condition. A limited number of officials have publicly announced meeting with him, most notably President Masoud Pezeshkian and the current chief of the General Staff, Ali Abdollahi. In August, Pezeshkian said that communication with Mojtaba Khamenei is “extremely difficult” at the moment. On August 10, the President told State TV he held a seven-hour meeting with the Supreme Leader. Despite Pezeshkian's account, no publicly verified footage of the meeting was released. In July, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has revealed that he has never met Mojtaba Khamenei since he assumed the role of Iran's Supreme Leader.
Three people close to the supreme leader’s inner circle told Reuters last April that Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war. Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the supreme leader's compound in central Tehran and he suffered a significant injury to one or both legs, all three sources said. Social media accounts of the people close to Khamenei's inner circle provide the most detailed description of the leader's condition for weeks but the reports could not be independently verified. Lat month, US President Donald Trump said he believes Khamenei is “very seriously wounded”, but not dead. Iranian officials say the supreme leader is taking part in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and is engaged in decision-making on major issues including the war and negotiations ‌with Washington. Thee Hamshahri newspaper, an Iranian media outlet affiliated with Tehran municipality has explained the prolonged absence of Khamenei from public view, arguing that modern intelligence agencies can extract highly sensitive information from even the simplest audio recordings, making any public appearance a security risk.

Iran's IRGC Navy Says Seven Vessels Hit, Warns US of Wider Response
Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Thursday that four vessels involved in illegal ‌oil transfers ‌in the ‌northern ⁠Arabian Gulf were simultaneously ⁠hit and caught fire after being tracked by ⁠its forces on ‌Wednesday, reported Reuters. The ‌IRGC added ‌that three ‌more vessels collided with mines west of the ‌Strait of Hormuz, and warned ⁠the ⁠US military that continued provocations could lead to a wider response against its regional bases. The report didn't provide details about possible casualties or the flags of the tankers. If verified, it would be the largest single-day number of vessels damaged in the waterway since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28 when the United States launched joint strikes against Iran.

Two killed, eight injured in attack on Saudi Arabia’s Dammam airport: Aviation authority
Al Arabiya English/22 October/2026
Two people have been killed and eight others were wounded in an attack targeting the King Fahd International Airport in eastern Saudi Arabia’s Dammam, the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a follow up statement on Thursday morning. The attack on the airport took place on Wednesday evening, the statement said. The GACA had originally put the toll at one death before issuing another statement noting that the total rose to two, a Saudi citizen and an Indian national resident. The civil aviation authority kept the number of wounded at eight and they included Saudi, Indian, Yemeni, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationalities, whose wounds ranged from minor to critical. The GACA said that the extent of the damage is being assessed noting that operations at the airport have resumed.Separately, the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, had said in a post on X on Thursday that four drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region.

Israel’s election may change its leader, but not Iran war policy
Reuters/October 22, 2026
DUBAI: Israel’s election next week may change its leader, but not its strategy: Iran will remain its chief adversary, military force will continue to be its preferred tool and Palestinian statehood a distant prospect, regional policymakers and analysts say.
That is because the strategic assumptions underpinning Israeli policy were hardened by the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israeli communities by Palestinian militant group Hamas and by the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. If anything, Israel could toughen its security policy, the analysts said, as victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the backing of far-right coalition partners could embolden him to step up the war with Iran, tighten Israel’s grip on the occupied West Bank and push diplomacy further to the margins. Israel’s security doctrine now rests on three pillars: breaking Iran, holding buffer zones beyond its borders and using force to deter enemies.The real divide is one of degree rather than direction — how aggressively Israel fights its wars, how far it expands Jewish settlements in the West Bank and whether any leader opts for diplomacy, the analysts said. From Tehran to Riyadh, Tuesday’s election is not seen as a potential turning point but as a test of whether the Middle East is settling into a long confrontation, where wars ‌ebb and flow while ‌the underlying conflicts are unresolved. “If Netanyahu is elected, he’ll do whatever he thinks he wants to do,” said Aviv ‌Bushinsky, a former adviser to Netanyahu. “Expansion of the settlements will continue. The wars against Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah will continue.”“What you see now is what you’ll see after the election, maybe even more aggressively,” he said. “As long as Iran is in such a situation, it’s a waste of time talking about Palestine.” Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel must prioritize “prevention and offense over containment and defense”, including pre-emptive strikes to thwart emerging threats, while establishing Israel as a regional power and maximizing its independence in armaments.
Why the course is unlikely to change
The election pits Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud and its ultranationalist allies against an opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party. Palestinian analyst Ghassan Al-Khatib sees no prospect of a fundamental shift in policy toward the Palestinians, with Israeli political parties competing to project harder-line positions as public opinion moves further to the right. “The substance of the policy remains the same: No to a Palestinian state and yes to further settlement expansion. On this, they are all in agreement,” he said. A government led by Netanyahu’s opponents might seek to repair ‌Israel’s international standing by curbing some settler violence or pursuing settlement expansion with less fanfare. But such changes would ‌be a shift in style rather than substance, Al-Khatib said. In response to Reuters questions on Iran and the West Bank, a State Department spokesperson said Washington would continue to pressure Tehran “as long ‌as Iran devotes its energy revenues to financing attacks on our allies, supporting terrorism around the world, and pursuing other destabilizing actions, we will use all the tools ‌at our disposal to hold the regime accountable.” The spokesperson also said the United States did not support Israel annexing the West Bank. “A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region,” they said. Michael Young of the Carnegie Middle East Center said Israel’s security establishment and much of its political class share a common strategic outlook, centered on confronting Iran, maintaining “forward defense” and preserving military deterrence, reducing the scope for big policy shifts. Joost Hiltermann of the International Crisis Group, who has conducted research in the West Bank, said ‌growing settler violence, mounting Palestinian frustration and the absence of a “political horizon” had created combustible conditions, where even a minor trigger could spark a wider uprising.
‘Venomous octopous’
Some regional policymakers ask whether Israel’s confrontation with Iran has become the organizing principle of Middle East security, regardless of who wins the election. US President Donald Trump’s praise of Netanyahu as a “great warrior prime minister” has reinforced expectations that the Israeli leader will try to finish the campaign against Tehran if he retains power.Netanyahu has made clear his ambitions extend beyond containing Iran to toppling its clerical rulers.“There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all: overthrow the regime in Iran,” he said at a military officer graduation ceremony on Wednesday, adding it was his directive to the military, Mossad and other security agencies. “Completing the task means toppling the terrorist regime in Iran, the head of the venomous octopus,” he said in another speech this week.But military and political analysts question whether anything short of a US-Israeli ground invasion would force Tehran to abandon what it views as its core security interests in what it sees as an existential fight. After surviving months of war, Iran may be betting it can outlast its opponents while continuing to exert pressure through regional allies.“This is a quagmire,” Young said. “The Iranians can outlast Trump.”Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza have been weakened, but the broader network of Iran-aligned groups has survived and the conflict could strengthen Tehran’s determination to pursue a nuclear deterrent, the analysts said. For all the alarm Netanyahu causes in the Arab world, some Gulf leaders still see him as the Israeli politician most likely to keep Iran under pressure. This creates a dilemma for them. They oppose what they view as his expansionist policies but want Iranian influence curbed. “Netanyahu’s policies in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria and Lebanon are damaging,” said Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center. “As for Iran, a settlement is needed before the conflict escalates further. If Iran’s role is not curbed, the region could be heading toward 50 years of Iranian hegemony.”

US expands sanctions campaign against Iran’s oil trade, support networks
The Arab Weekly/October 22/2026
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Karnakis & Karnakis for years “set up shell companies to hide the true owners of vessels carrying Iranian oil, petrochemicals and steel.”The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Wednesday on Karnakis & Karnakis, a law firm based in Greece and Panama, saying it had for years provided legal assistance to Iranian shipping networks. The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also issued an administrative subpoena to advance an investigation into a Greek bank over potential ties to Iran, according to a Treasury statement, which did not name the bank.FINCEN also issued requests for information to six other European banks that it did not name over relationships with Iranian financial institutions under US sanctions. “Whether you are conducting illegal oil transfers at sea or sitting in the corner office of a law firm, if you are supporting the Iranian regime, we will find you and sanction you,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a release. Washington has held off striking Iran this month in the war that the US and Israel launched on February 28, and instead has continued the blockade of Iranian ports and issued waves of sanctions on Iranian shipping networks and those who the US says aid them. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Karnakis & Karnakis for years “set up shell companies to hide the true owners of vessels carrying Iranian oil, petrochemicals and steel.”He said the firm created companies that served as fronts for networks selling millions of barrels of Iranian oil to benefit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force and the Houthis.Karnakis & Karnakis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Treasury also imposed sanctions on Singapore- and UAE-based shipping agents that it said directly aid Iranian shadow fleet operations.

Iran reports ship fires, mine strikes, threatens wider response against US
The Arab Weekly/October 22/2026
The IRGC warned the US military that continued provocations could lead to a wider response against its regional bases. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Thursday that four vessels involved in illegal oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf were simultaneously hit and caught fire after being tracked by its forces on Wednesday.The IRGC added that three more vessels collided with mines west of the Strait of Hormuz, and warned the US military that continued provocations could lead to a wider response against its regional bases. The announcement comes amid mounting tensions over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has stepped up attacks on vessels and sought to exert greater control since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28.In an October 14 report, Reuters cited two senior Iranian officials as saying Tehran had adopted new tactics to target ships it considered to be violating its restrictions, in an effort to keep oil prices high and increase pressure on Washington ahead of the US midterm elections in November. The Strait of Hormuz carried about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war. Iranian threats and attacks have sharply reduced traffic through the waterway, driving up oil prices and raising concerns over further disruption to global energy supplies. A US military official told Reuters that Iran had begun using unarmed spotters in small boats to identify potential targets after US strikes destroyed much of its radar capabilities. The official said US forces had recently confronted and destroyed a dhow being used by Iranian spotters, with no casualties. Tehran has also threatened to extend its operations beyond the strait into the Gulf of Oman and waters further afield. Maritime security reports cited by Reuters in October indicated that attacks on vessels had been recorded beyond Hormuz, including in waters off Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.Washington has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports and expanded sanctions in an effort to pressure Tehran into a deal to end the conflict. US President Donald Trump has said he would not launch further attacks against Iran before the November midterm elections. The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center has described the threat to merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as “severe”, citing continued attacks, attempted attacks and harassment, including drone overflights and surveillance of commercial vessels. The latest reported incidents add to concerns over the security of shipping in the Gulf, where further attacks or restrictions on passage could disrupt energy markets and intensify the confrontation between Tehran and Washington.

Trump says Iran is trying to drive up oil prices before the midterm elections
Reuters/October 22, 2026
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran was ‌doing ‌all it ‌could to drive up the price of oil before the US ‌midterm ‌elections.“They are ‌even ‌making up fake hits, mines, ‌and everything else,” he said in a Truth Social post. The president’s comments come after Iran’s state television reported that seven oil tankers caught fire and were damaged overnight Thursday after being targeted or striking naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Quoting a statement by the Revolutionary Guard’s navy, the Iranian report said that four of the tankers were transferring oil when they were targeted and caught fire. Another three were damaged and immobilized when they hit naval mines.The report didn't provide details about possible casualties or the flags of the tankers.
The report also warned that the Revolutionary Guard may target US bases in the region if the US tried to allow oil tankers to transit through other parts of the strait.

Two killed, 8 injured in Dammam airport attack
Agence France Presse/Associated Press
An attack targeting the King Fahd International Airport in eastern Saudi Arabia's Dammam killed a Saudi citizen and an Indian national and injured eight others Wednesday evening, the kingdom's civil aviation authority said. The authority said in a statement that injuries from the attack ranged from "minor to serious" and that material damage to the airport was also being assessed. It did not describe what type of attack occurred, but the kingdom's airports have been targeted repeatedly by projectiles in recent days by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.King Fahd Airport on the country's east near Bahrain and Qatar has been attacked previously amid a wider wave of Houthi missile and projectile strikes targeting major airports in Saudi Arabia.

US orders Gulf diplomatic drawdown after deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia
The Arab Weekly/October 22/2026
Four US officials said that US missions in other Gulf states would also be ordering family members to leave. The US State Department has ordered some diplomats and family members to depart from its missions in Saudi Arabia and plans to withdraw family members from a number of other US missions in the region, US officials told Reuters. The order came as attacks in Saudi Arabia killed at least one person and injured eight others at a civilian airport in Dammam and two people were killed in a drone attack on an oil field. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a post on X that the department ordered the departure of “non-emergency US government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only” amid attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen on civilian targets in the country. Washington had returned some diplomatic personnel to the region in recent months after many were pulled out when Tehran launched attacks on US facilities after the US-Israeli war on Iran began in late February. “Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions,” Pigott said. Four US officials said that US missions in other Gulf states would also be ordering family members to leave. Pigott did not address changes to other missions outside Saudi Arabia. The latest withdrawals follow an escalation of the fighting in Yemen, opening another front in the regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The wider conflict has snarled global energy trade and hurt Gulf economies. After the departure order, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority reported an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam that killed one person and injured eight others. Earlier in the day, two people were killed after Saudi air defences intercepted a drone that was attempting to hit a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield, the energy ministry said. The US embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday about possible further attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia, after recent deadly strikes including on Riyadh’s airport. The embassy and a CIA station hosted there came under attack by drones in early March, as Iran began launching attacks across the region.

Saudi says downed drones in Riyadh, Medina areas
Agence France Presse/October 22/2026
Saudi Arabia on Thursday said it downed drones in the areas of Riyadh and the holy city of Medina, as Yemen's Houthis carry out daily attacks on the kingdom. "Interception and destruction of four drones in the regions of Riyadh and Medina," said Turki Al-Malki in a post on X, the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed group.

Egypt urges political solution between Saudis and Houthis
Agence France Presse/October 22/2026
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Thursday said all options must be explored to find a political solution between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. At a press conference where he reiterated solidarity with Saudi Arabia, he stressed "the necessity of exploring all avenues for reaching political solutions".

Top European, Mideast diplomats to meet in Istanbul Friday
Agence France Presse/October 22/2026
Top European diplomats will hold talks in Istanbul Friday with their counterparts from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt, a meeting initiated by Ankara, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.
Foreign ministers from the so-called E3 group -- Britain, France and Germany -- will meet counterparts from the newly created R4 group to discuss the Palestinian issue, developments in Yemen and the Hormuz Strait, and ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war, the source said.

Macron meets Saudi crown prince in ‘solidarity visit’, secures diesel supplies
The Arab Weekly/October 22/2026
The visit was “to demonstrate France’s solidarity with the kingdom in the face of attacks launched by the Houthis against its territory”. French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in an unscheduled stop in his tour of the Gulf region. The visit was “to demonstrate France’s solidarity with the kingdom in the face of attacks launched by the Houthis against its territory, and to continue efforts aimed at securing and diversifying hydrocarbon supplies,” the French presidency said. He was the first Western leader to visit the kingdom since Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis intensified their attacks this month. The unannounced trip sent a strong signal to his Saudi ally as Riyadh comes under near-daily attack from the Iran-backed Houthis.
It was part of a Gulf tour to secure oil and diesel and bring down prices in France, following a weekend of violent protests over soaring living costs. Macron told reporters he was just “doing his job” in a bid to “ease tensions” over gas prices, one of the causes of social unrest in France.
The French president met de facto Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Elysee Palace said. The two leaders agreed that Saudi Arabia would supply additional diesel to France “for as many months as necessary”, and to consult on expanded security cooperation and infrastructure projects to bypass the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, the palace added. In recent weeks, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have reached an unprecedented scale, forcing Riyadh to shut its main airport and postpone a major investment conference. A Houthi maritime blockade is also threatening oil exports from the kingdom. Macron’s visit comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to rally Western support in the face of Houthi attacks. Earlier on Wednesday, Macron said France had sent troops to help shield the key Saudi oil terminal of Yanbu on the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, while insisting it was important that “discussions resume” with the group. “For the past eight days, we’ve had personnel and capabilities deployed (in Yanbu); we’re working with Saudi Arabia in this direction, and so we have a defensive role to play,” he told reporters in the Qatari capital. The world’s biggest crude exporter had been relying on Yanbu to export its oil, after Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the Middle East war. Last month, Macron said in a televised interview that France would send “military means” to help shield the Yanbu terminal from Houthi attacks.On Tuesday, the UK government announced it would deploy British fighter jets to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against increasing attacks. As part of his tour, Macron secured the delivery of an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as two terawatt-hours per month of LNG from Qatar. In July, a truce in Yemen dating back to 2022 fell apart after the Houthis allowed an Iranian plane to land in the capital Sana’a in defiance of Riyadh’s control over Yemeni airspace, setting off a spate of attacks. Later, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and began hitting its ships, territory and oil facilities, before launching a major offensive in September in which they seized government-held territory along the Red Sea coast. In response, the Saudi air force has frequently targeted the group in support of pro-government forces.

Houthi attacks on holy sites, civilian facilities is a grave crime, says Malaysia’s mufti
RASHID HASSAN/Arab News/October 22, 2026
RIYADH: The grand mufti of Malaysia has strongly condemned the Iran-backed Houthis’ targeting of holy sites — including pilgrims heading to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah — and civilian facilities in various parts of the Kingdom, along with the killing of innocent people, describing the militia’s actions as among the gravest crimes and acts of aggression.In a video posted on X by the Muslim World League — a Makkah-based independent international organization comprising members from Islamic countries that promotes Islam by advancing moderate values — Sheikh Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil, mufti of the Federal Territories of Malaysia, strongly condemned the Houthi militia’s attacks on Islamic holy sites and civilian facilities in the Kingdom.He said: “I wish to clearly state that I personally condemn the attack against Saudi Arabia. We consider this attack a grave crime, an act of aggression against an Islamic state and an unlawful act of aggression against Muslims.” He added that history had never witnessed actions like those of a group which targeted holy sites and those who visited them. He warned that those who committed such acts faced destruction and severe punishment. Saudi capital Riyadh, Abha in the southwest and Dammam in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia have been under threat from the Houthis as missiles and drones have been intercepted on a regular basis. Makkah and Madinah are also under threat.Two people were killed and eight others injured in an attack that targeted Dammam airport on Wednesday, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation. The fatalities included one Saudi citizen and an Indian resident, while, the authority reported, the eight people injured included “one citizen, two residents each of Indian, Yemeni, and Bangladeshi nationalities, (and) one resident of Nepalese nationality.”The authority added: “Their injuries range from minor to severe, and they are currently receiving necessary medical care in a number of hospitals.”The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen’s spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said on Thursday that a drone had been intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh region.

UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh enters race to become next UN chief
The Arab Weekly/October 22/2026
A Nusseibeh victory would make her the second UN chief from the Middle East, after Egypt’s Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Senior UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh entered the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general on Wednesday, injecting a prominent Middle Eastern candidate into a contest that has struggled to produce a consensus choice among the Security Council’s most powerful members. Nusseibeh, a former UAE ambassador to the UN for more than a decade, said she would seek to restore the world body’s role as a diplomatic problem-solver at a time of mounting global crises. “It’s clear that today we need a secretary-general that can recommit to the future of multilateralism and the future of the United Nations as a problem-solver rather than as a spectator to the world’s crises,” she said shortly before going public with her candidacy.
Nusseibeh, the UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, is a late entrant to the race. An informal Security Council poll had placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as the narrow frontrunner, sources have said. Although Grynspan has led the informal “straw polls,” last week she and all other candidates received two or more opposing votes from the ultimately decisive five permanent members of the council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the US.Council members are negotiating over whether to hold another poll this Friday or at a later stage.
Entrepreneurial diplomacy
Nusseibeh, 48, said she was approached by multiple countries during the last UN General Assembly to put herself forward. She previously led the UAE’s successful campaign for election to the Security Council. Diplomats in New York say she is respected as a competent manager.
“It’s recognised today that we need someone who offers generational change for the organisation,” she said. Her UN tenure overlapped with the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023 when she secured the adoption of Resolution 2720 paving the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Nusseibeh said she secured support for the resolution by arranging a visit by council members to the Rafah border crossing to see for themselves the situation on the ground, describing the move as part of her “creative entrepreneurial diplomacy” that characterises her approach.
Relentless diplomacy
As a top UAE diplomat, Nusseibeh has championed Abu Dhabi’s assertive foreign policy and heavy focus on countering political Islam.The UAE has faced criticism over Sudan after UN sanctions monitors described allegations that it provided military support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces as credible. The UAE denies the allegations. Asked how the allegations might affect her candidacy, Nusseibeh said she had taken leave from her UAE post and would focus on Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.A Nusseibeh victory would make her the second UN chief from the Middle East, after Egypt’s Boutros Boutros-Ghali. “I come from a country that is younger than the United Nations but our region is one that has been facing severe challenges,” she said. She would also become the first woman to lead the UN, though Nusseibeh said she was not running on her gender. “I think it would be great if the next secretary-general was a woman but I’m not running because I’m a woman; I’m running because I am stubbornly optimistic about the future of the United Nations and I believe we need someone who is relentless in the pursuit of diplomacy to open doors.”

Man with Down syndrome killed in Israeli raid in southern Syria, residents say
AP/October 22, 2026
JAMLA, Syria: A developmentally disabled man was killed by Israeli forces during a raid on a village in southern Syria’s Daraa province, state media and residents said Thursday.
The man, Muath Salama Al-Baeer, was buried in the village of Jamla later Thursday as anger rose over Israeli incursions in the area.State news agency SANA reported that a “civilian with special needs” was killed during an Israeli incursion into Jamla. It did not give more details about how he was killed. The Israeli military said in a statement that soldiers had “identified a suspect approaching them and carried out a suspect apprehension procedure” during an overnight operation. “The suspect continued to approach the soldiers, who responded by firing toward him in order to remove the threat,” it said, adding that the incident is under review. After the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December 2024, Israeli forces seized control of a UN-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria and have occupied it since. Israeli officials initially described their presence as temporary but have since said they intend to remain in southern Syria indefinitely to protect Israel’s borders. Syrian officials regularly call for Israel’s withdrawal but have not responded militarily. Jamla is not inside the Israeli-occupied zone, but Israeli forces often make incursions into areas outside the zone. Residents of the village said Al-Baeer had Down syndrome and that his parents were dead and he lived with his sisters. They said he was unarmed when he was killed. Israeli forces “enter people’s houses at midnight and at 3 o’clock in the morning without permission,” said Jamla resident Adnan Al-Masri. “This martyr today has special needs. He was not a military man, did not have a weapon and was not resisting them. Why was he killed?” Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the killing of Al-Baeer and called for the “international community to assume its responsibilities in putting an end to the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and to compel the occupation authorities to respect the rules of international law.”Tarek Al-Khalil, a lawyer and activist from Daraa, called on Syrian authorities to file cases against Israel before international courts. Others advocated for more drastic measures. Al-Masri called on Syrian authorities to “protect our country and give us weapons” to confront Israeli forces. Syrian authorities have given no indication that they plan to do so, but clashes have periodically broken out between armed villagers and Israeli troops.

Aramco CEO: Strength of financial position enhances investments and resilience
Al Arabiya English/22 October/2026
Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser said that the current crisis, triggered by the war in the region, was unprecedented in its impact on energy markets. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya Business and that was aired on Thursday, Nasser noted that the market has lost around 3 billion barrels of supply since the crisis began. Nasser said that oil prices could have climbed significantly higher were it not for drawdowns from global strategic reserves as well as the role played by Aramco’s East-West pipeline in maintaining supply flows and calming markets. He noted that China had been importing around 11 million barrels per day by sea, but this figure fell to approximately 5–6 million barrels per day in June, helping to ease pressure on the market. Nasser explained that a return to normal conditions would drive an increase in demand of around 3 million barrels per day, including 2 million barrels to meet growth in consumption and 1 million barrels to replenish inventories depleted by countries during the crisis.
Operational Resilience
Addressing Aramco’s ability to withstand shocks, Nasser stressed that operational resilience is not built during crises, but is the result of decades of planning, investment, and preparation. He said the government’s decision to expand the East-West pipeline in the 1980s provided a strategic oil export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the pipeline’s capacity has increased from around 2 million barrels per day to its current 7 million barrels per day. Nasser praised Aramco employees while noting that human capital is the cornerstone of resilience.
He said that the company’s employees have undergone years of training and development adding that they played “heroic” roles during the crisis in restoring damaged facilities and ensuring continued supplies to global markets. Nasser added that the company’s advanced infrastructure, including pipelines, ports, storage facilities, and operational installations, was a key factor in maintaining business continuity, alongside local supply chains. He explained that more than 90 percent of the materials required during the crisis were sourced from the domestic market, while local content at Aramco has reached around 70 percent.
Nasser also highlighted the role that technology has played in becoming ones of the sources of resilience. Aramco processes more than 10 billion data points daily to manage operations, exploration, and production, as well as reduce costs and emissions, Nasser said.
He added that drones also played an important role during attacks on some facilities by assessing damage, determining response priorities, and managing firefighting operations. Nasser explained that rapid response is one of the company’s key strengths. From the earliest moments of any incident, teams begin mobilizing equipment, materials, and maintenance crews alongside firefighting operations. This helps reduce facility restoration times from weeks or months to just hours or days.

Kremlin Says It Will Review Trump's Invitation to G20 Summit, No Decision Yet
Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Russia will review a US invitation for President Vladimir Putin to attend a ‌G20 ‌meeting in Miami ‌in ⁠December but no ⁠decision has been made yet, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry ⁠Peskov said ‌on ‌Thursday. US Secretary ‌of State ‌Marco Rubio said in September that Putin ‌had been invited to Miami, ⁠where ⁠he could hold a summit with President Donald Trump.

Syria says two security personnel killed in operation against ISIS-linked cell
Al Arabiya English/22 October/2026
Syrian security forces on Thursday said two of their personnel five members of a cell affiliated ISIS group were killed in an operation in the Damascus region on Thursday. The country’s authorities regularly announce operations against ISIS-affiliated networks and individuals accused of planning attacks. A security forces statement carried by state television said the forces, in cooperation with intelligence services, carried out an operation targeting “a cell affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist organization in the town of Rankus” in the Damascus countryside. “During the operation, the cell members refused to surrender and opened fire on the security forces, leading to clashes that killed two security force personnel and wounded five others,” the statement said. “The operation ended with the neutralization of five members of the cell, the arrest of six others and the seizure of weapons and explosive belts,” it added. Earlier this month, Syrian authorities said they had arrested a key ISIS operative allegedly responsible for planning and overseeing attacks including a deadly mosque blast in Homs last year. Syrian authorities, who face major security challenges, last year joined a US-led coalition against the extremists. Once in control of swathes of Syria and Iraq, ISIS was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019, but remnants of the group are still present there, including in the country’s vast desert.The group occasionally claims attacks, mainly targeting Syrian security forces. Syria has blamed ISIS for bomb blasts in July during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. Authorities said they arrested the cell responsible. With AFP

Druze Source Denies Reports of Plans for Israeli Base in Rural Sweida
Damascus: Muwafaq Mohammed/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
A Druze source in Syria's southern Sweida province who opposes the policies of Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri has dismissed reports of plans to establish an Israeli military base in the province's southeastern countryside. The source also denied reports that the so-called National Guard was preparing to launch a major offensive against areas under Syrian government control and neighboring Daraa province, telling Asharq Al-Awsat that the claims were “media rumors with no basis on the ground.” “The reality is different,” the source said. “While platforms and media outlets affiliated with al-Hijri and his fighters were aggressively spreading these rumors, there were limited preparations to attack internal security positions, but the attack never materialized.”The source said the reported plans were unlikely to move “beyond the media.” Since early last week, media outlets affiliated with al-Hijri and the National Guard have reported preparations for a major offensive against government-held areas in rural Sweida, with some threatening to extend the assault into neighboring Daraa province. The claims have been accompanied by reports of intensive, sustained Israeli helicopter activity over southern Syria, including Sweida, Daraa and Quneitra. Some accounts alleged that helicopters carrying military equipment for Sweida's armed groups had landed in the province's countryside. Other reports went further, alleging that Sweida’s de facto authorities were in talks with the Israeli government to establish a military base on Tal Qulaib, a hill in the province’s southeast, and install surveillance equipment at its summit. Amid the reports, one platforms said the National Guard leadership had issued a military circular ordering all sector commanders and field units to bar civilians from approaching or filming at designated strategic hills and locations, warning of legal and judicial action against violators. The circular called for “strict surveillance and immediate enforcement” at Tal Maaz, Tal al-Fara, Tal Alia, Jabal al-Fina, Tal Qulaib, Tal Shaaf, Tal al-Majda, Tal Sahn and Tal Zawagh in eastern Sweida. But the Druze military source challenged the claims, saying he was in daily contact with residents of al-Kafr, a town on the slopes of Tal Qulaib. “Residents confirm that life in the town is entirely normal. There are no signs of a base being established,” he said. Journalist Omar al-Hariri, a native of southern Syria, also denounced the wave of reports circulated by outlets affiliated with al-Hijri as “fake,” warning against sharing them in a post on X. He said there was “no truth whatsoever” to claims that Israel was building a military base in Sweida. He argued that Israel had no need for an air base in Sweida, which lies less than 100 kilometers from Israeli bases in Quneitra and the Golan Heights, putting al-Hijri’s fighters within minutes of Israeli air support. As for reports of sustained Israeli helicopter flights over southern Syria, al-Hariri said such flights were nothing new. Helicopters had previously delivered weapons, communications equipment, logistical supplies and aid, as well as transported sick and wounded people, he said.
National Guard Turns Accusations on Damascus
National Guard spokesperson Major Talal Amer, however, accused Damascus of plotting an offensive of its own, saying the government sought to distract the public from administrative failures by drawing it into an external conflict. “We are seeing reinforcements arriving and fortifications being built around the clock in occupied areas,” Amer told Asharq Al-Awsat in a written message. “Meanwhile, the Damascus government is spreading rumors to divert attention and convince public opinion that it is repelling an attack,” he said. “If the National Guard intended to launch an offensive to liberate its occupied villages, it would not announce it or leak the plans on social media.”Amer also rejected calls by Sweida Governor Mustafa al-Bakour for dialogue with residents to resolve the crisis. Former chief Syrian opposition negotiator and lawyer Mohammed Sabra cast further doubt on the National Guard's ability to mount an offensive, citing the militias' limited manpower, inadequate weapons and internal divisions. “The militias in Sweida simply do not have the capacity to launch a military attack,” Sabra said. He said they faced severe shortages of fighters and possessed little beyond small arms, rifles and some anti-armor munitions. Internal rifts had compounded their weakness, he added, with some groups turning into gangs involved in robbery, looting, kidnapping and the intimidation of civilians. Their grip on Sweida, Sabra argued, rested not on military strength but on regional power dynamics and ties to Israel. He warned that Israel could seize on any military operation aimed at ending what he called an "abnormal situation" as a pretext for deeper intervention inside Syria.
Israeli Arms Buildup and Election Uncertainty
Sabra acknowledged that Israeli military and logistical support for Sweida's militias had increased, but questioned whether the buildup signaled an impending offensive against government-controlled areas in western Sweida. The explanation, he suggested, may lie instead in Israel's own political uncertainty ahead of pivotal parliamentary elections. If Benjamin Netanyahu lost and another politician was tasked with forming a government, Sabra said, Netanyahu's administration would enter a caretaker period, limiting its ability to create new military or security realities that could obstruct the incoming government's agenda. The next government's security policy toward Syria remained unknown, he added. An inconclusive election could prove equally restrictive. If neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition secured enough support to form a stable government, Israel could face a political crisis and another election, a process Sabra said could take three to four months. The government's powers would also face certain restrictions during that period. Against that backdrop, Sabra suggested that increased Israeli weapons shipments to Sweida's militias could be designed to prepare them for either outcome, ensuring they had enough arms and ammunition to last through months of political uncertainty. He said Israeli weapons deliveries to the militias had risen markedly over the past week.

Israeli Fire Kills Three People in Gaza
Asharq Al Awsat/22 October/2026
Israeli fire killed one person in a car in Gaza City and at least two others in other parts of the enclave on Thursday, health officials there said. A crowd gathered around the burning wreckage in Gaza City's Tel Al-Hawa neighbourhood as orange-vested emergency workers sprayed it with water, photos from the scene showed, Reuters reported. Another strike killed a Palestinian man on a bike in the southern city of Khan Younis, and gunfire killed a woman near the Jabalia refugee camp, in the north, the medics added.The Israeli military said they had struck a Hamas militant in Khan Younis, without giving further details. The military added they were still checking reports of the strikes in Jabalia and Gaza City's Tel Al-Hawa suburb. Israel, which says the Hamas militant group has been rearming and launching attacks in violation of a year-old ceasefire, has stepped up strikes on the group in recent weeks. Hamas has denied trying to carry out attacks or rebuild its arsenal and accuses Israel of undermining the Gaza peace deal. Last year's US-brokered ceasefire calls for eventual reconstruction of the territory. But little progress has been made as negotiators have failed to agree terms for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops. Israeli airstrikes have continued. At least 1,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire, according to the territory's health officials, while Israel says four soldiers have been killed. Palestinian authorities say more than 74,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Sources Reveal to Asharq Al-Awsat Details of Fatah-Hamas Talks in Cairo
Gaza: Asharq Al Awsat/22 October/2026
Several Palestinian sources have revealed details of meetings held in Cairo days ago between a senior Fatah delegation and leaders and representatives of Palestinian factions, particularly Hamas. The discussions ended with an agreement to resume talks in the near future. Two sources, one from Hamas and another from a different Palestinian faction, separately told Asharq Al-Awsat that the meetings would resume after the Israeli Knesset elections scheduled for next Tuesday, with the aim of reaching an agreement. The Hamas source said two meetings had been held between the movement's delegation, which included Zaher Jabarin, head of its political bureau in the West Bank, and political bureau members Ghazi Hamad and Hussam Badran, and a Fatah delegation led by Jibril Rajoub and including Mohammad Shtayyeh. The source noted that the first meeting was attended by Maj. Gen. Ahmed Abdel Khalek, the Egyptian intelligence official responsible for Palestinian affairs. While the Hamas source described the first meeting as positive, a Fatah source and two representatives of other Palestinian factions who had been briefed on its outcome offered a different assessment. They said the meeting had produced no meaningful understandings or concrete basis for further progress, with one source describing its results as particularly poor. Nevertheless, they acknowledged that the atmosphere had been constructive, with both sides showing a willingness to listen to each other's demands. All four sources said the Hamas delegation had raised several issues during the first meeting, including restructuring the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Supreme Court, employment, the future of employees in Gaza, passports and objections to the Palestinian Authority security services' treatment of Hamas members in the West Bank. Hamas emphasized the need to resolve these issues as essential steps toward ending the Palestinian political division. However, discussions focused primarily on the PLO and the need to address broader questions concerning the Palestinian national project and its future.
The second meeting, which most sources described as more significant and serious, saw the Fatah delegation present a document from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas containing several demands that Hamas would be required to accept. Asharq Al-Awsat revealed the contents of the document late last month. The demands included ending the consequences of the Hamas takeover of Gaza and committing to a single governing system, one law and one legitimate armed force. They also called for recognition of the PLO and its political program as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, adherence to peaceful popular resistance, and commitment to a political settlement based on the two-state solution in accordance with international resolutions. The document further stipulated the formation of a technocratic government by decision of President Abbas, with authority over the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. It also required that responsibility for negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement remain exclusively with the PLO.
Hamas Reservations
According to a Hamas source and another Palestinian faction representative, the Hamas delegation raised reservations about three provisions in Abbas's document. The sources said Hamas had no objection to recognizing the PLO and its political program but would not recognize the organization's commitments, particularly those concerning recognition of Israel, security coordination with Israeli authorities and other political arrangements governing Palestinian relations with Israel. A second point of disagreement concerned Hamas's acceptance of a Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967, borders while refusing to recognize Israel as a second state without a clear process and concrete steps toward implementing a two-state solution. The third issue concerned restricting resistance exclusively to peaceful methods. The Hamas delegation requested alternative wording that would not rule out other forms of resistance. According to the same sources, these issues remained unresolved. The Fatah delegation informed Hamas representatives that it would refer the disputed provisions for internal discussions within the movement and consultations with President Abbas, who appeared determined to secure Hamas's acceptance of the document in its entirety.
Meetings with Other Palestinian Factions
The Fatah and Hamas delegations also met representatives of other Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Fatah Democratic Reform Current led by Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah leader who broke away from the movement.
The meetings addressed many of the same issues, although discussions between Fatah and Dahlan's faction focused primarily on internal reconciliation. Dahlan's representatives presented demands calling for the reinstatement of all members expelled from Fatah, the restoration of salaries to those whose payments had been suspended, and the reintegration of all members into the movement's governing bodies, including the Central Committee and Revolutionary Council. Rajoub confirmed that these demands would be conveyed to President Abbas. The Fatah delegation also met the leadership of Islamic Jihad in discussions that sources from both movements described as highly positive. A Fatah source said Islamic Jihad had affirmed its commitment to any agreement reached through national consensus. The group also requested a change to the wording concerning resistance, objecting to restricting it exclusively to peaceful popular resistance. Four sources from Hamas and other Palestinian factions revealed that Egyptian officials had made clear that it was not Cairo's responsibility to convene a Palestinian national dialogue. They said the decision to call such a dialogue must come from President Abbas, although Egypt remained fully prepared to host it. According to the sources, Egyptian officials stressed to all the factions that bilateral meetings should pave the way for agreement on the outstanding issues before a comprehensive national dialogue is convened. Cairo emphasized the importance of avoiding another failed reconciliation effort, insisting that broad agreement on the key issues should be reached before launching formal national talks. The Egyptian side also pointed out that such a dialogue would attract close attention not only from Palestinians but also from Arab and Islamic countries, European governments and the United States. A successful dialogue could help open the way for an internationally supported political process that would shape the options available to Palestinians and determine the future direction of their national cause.

Iraq Condemns Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Rejects Use of Its Territory to Target the Kingdom
Asharq Al Awsat/22 October 2026
eign Minister Fuad Hussein condemned the recent terrorist attacks targeting areas of Saudi Arabia, reaffirming his government's rejection of attacks on civilians and civilian facilities and its refusal to allow Iraqi territory to be used as a launching point for any attacks or activities threatening the security of the Kingdom or other countries in the region. His remarks came during a telephone call Thursday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, during which the two ministers reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields to advance mutual interests and enhance coordination in addressing current regional challenges. The call also addressed the recent terrorist attacks targeting areas of Saudi Arabia. Hussein reiterated the Iraqi government's condemnation of the attacks and its rejection of any actions that could endanger civilians or civilian infrastructure. He stressed Iraq's firm opposition to the use of its territory for hostile acts targeting Saudi Arabia or undermining the Kingdom's security and stability. For his part, Prince Faisal bin Farhan reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's support for the Iraqi government's efforts to reduce tensions and promote dialogue and cooperation with neighboring countries, contributing to greater security and stability across the region.

Tunisia: Former Presidential Candidate Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison
Tunis/Asharq Al Awsat/22 October 2026
A Tunisian military court sentenced opposition politician Olfa Hamdi to four years in prison on charges of plotting against state security and inciting the military to disobey orders, her lawyer said on Wednesday. The charges against the dual Tunisian and American national stemmed from social media posts and included inciting military personnel to disobey orders, lawyer Akram Moussa said. Hamdi briefly served as head of national airline company Tunisair before her sacking in 2021, later running a consulting firm in the United States. In Tunisia's 2024 presidential vote, Hamdi -- then 36 -- sought to run for the top role, but her candidacy was turned down as she did not meet the 40-year age limit for candidates.A critic of President Kais Saied, Hamdi was already sentenced to two years in prison earlier this year after her arrest upon arrival at Tunis airport in February. The latest sentence against her came from two additional convictions, with two years in prison for each, Moussa said. A US State Department spokesman told AFP that Washington was "closely tracking the situation." "The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens," he said. Hamdi heads the Third Republic party, which she founded in 2022, and has often criticized Saied and, at times, the country's military on social media.

Targeted by Trump, ICC in Running for Top EU Rights Prize
Asharq Al Awsat/22 October 2026
Facing US sanctions, the International Criminal Court is up for the European Union's top rights prize Thursday, with supporters pressing its case as a show of support for a fraying rules-based world order.The European Parliament has named the Netherlands-based tribunal among the three finalists for its Sakharov Prize alongside Tanzania opposition leader Tundu Lissu and twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, representing those prosecuted by the Iranian government. The winner will be announced on Thursday after being chosen by senior lawmakers, ahead of an awards ceremony in December, said AFP. Set up in 1988 and named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, the prize is bestowed annually on individuals or organizations to recognize their fight for human rights or democracy. Contenders are nominated by parliament's political groups as well as individual lawmakers.Lissu, head of Tanzania's opposition Chadema party, was detained in April 2025. He faces a possible death penalty if convicted of treason for allegedly inciting the public to boycott last year's elections.Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, 21, have respectively been sentenced to death and 36 years in prison for having taken part in anti-government protests in Iran.
But it is a potential victory of the ICC which could prove the most eye-catching, given the potential for upsetting Washington.
'Brick by brick' -
This month, the United States announced sanctions against the ICC aimed at crippling the day-to-day operations of the court, which tries individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. US President Donald Trump's administration has vowed to dismantle the court "brick by brick", furious that judges have issued an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged crimes in Gaza. "We stand by the ICC and its officials, and we are committed to safeguarding its work," said Yannis Maniatis, a lawmaker with the center-left S&D group, which backed the ICC nomination. "Protecting the principles upon which our world is built is essential to defending our democracy and our values." The nomination comes after ex-ICC judge Navi Pillay, who also served as UN rights chief, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this month -- a choice Trump slammed as "disgraceful", arguing the award should have gone to him. Lissu, however, appears to be the favorite to win. He was nominated by the center-right EPP grouping, the biggest in the parliament. "There is no doubt about the political nature of his detention," said German MEP David McAllister. "The European Union must no longer tolerate the criminalization of legitimate opposition work or the manipulation of the judiciary in Tanzania." Recent high-profile winners of the Sakharov prize have been Venezuelan opposition chief Maria Corina Machado, deceased Russian Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and the people of Ukraine.

France Reports 1st Human Shamonda Virus Case, Says No Health Risk
Paris/Asharq Al Awsat/22 October 2026
French health authorities said Thursday that the Shamonda virus, which usually affects livestock, had been detected in a human for the first time, in a severely immunocompromised patient who died earlier this month. "Despite circulating in Africa and Asia for several decades, the Shamonda virus has never previously been detected in humans," the health and agriculture ministries said in a joint statement.They said there was "no health risk to the general public identified at this time,” adding that the human infection appeared to be "an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient" hospitalized for a serious medical condition.

Turkey to host regional, European FMs for talks on regional conflicts: Source
Reuters/22 October/2026
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will host his counterparts from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France and Germany in Istanbul on Friday for talks on regional conflicts, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Thursday. The seven countries will meet in this format for the first time, at Turkey’s initiative, the source said, as wars involving Iran, Yemen and Ukraine threaten shipping routes and regional security.The ministers are expected to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the latest situation in the Strait of Hormuz, developments related to Yemen, efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and opportunities for closer cooperation between the regional and European countries, the person added. Fidan is expected to emphasize the need for a diplomatic solution to the war between the United States and Iran, the importance of freedom of navigation in the straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, and reiterate Turkey’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security against attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants under the Mecca Defense Alliance agreement signed between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the source said.He will also tell counterparts that Turkey has been working to stop the war in Ukraine spreading to the Black Sea, pointing to the regional security risks posed by the conflict, the source added.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 22-23/2026
Les équivoques d’un pays en fin de parcours/Dr. Charles Chartouni/ICI Beyrout/October 22/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/158487/
Les épisodes du trafic d’explosifs et des médicaments périmés remettent en relief la fiction étatique et ses compromissions avec la mafia chiite de manière directe. L’incapacité de l’État résulte des relations équivoques qu’il entretient avec le duo chiite, qui navigue dans les eaux troubles d’une complicité favorisant la politique de domination chiite.
Cette ambiguïté est délibérément voulue et entretenue par les deux parties en lice pour des raisons qui leur sont propres. L’épilogue est rudimentaire : chacun trouve sa part dans cette relation perverse, qui se maintient malgré les équivoques qui l’enveloppent et les incidences destructrices qu'elle a sur la société hypothétiquement nationale et le pseudo-État de droit. Nous faisons face à un état de décomposition généralisé où les notions de base d’un État de droit sont entièrement faussées et instrumentées au profit d’une politique de domination qui avance sans ambages.
Il faudrait voir cette réalité pour ce qu’elle est et renoncer à l’état de déni qui empreint l’abord de la question étatique au Liban. En d’autres termes, la structure étatique actuelle a été conçue sur la base de ces équivoques, de leurs paralogismes constitutionnels et de tout un ethos politique qui s’est construit autour des mensonges qui ont fondé et perduré les politiques de domination chiite.
C’est cette supercherie d’État qui a rendu possible, couvert et entériné une entreprise de subversion qui avançait sur les décombres d’un État de droit en voie de dépérissement. Ce n’est pas un hasard si la criminalité, le terrorisme et la délinquance ont évolué sans entraves. La politique d’expropriation foncière qui visait les chrétiens bénéficiait de la complicité des administrations publiques insidieusement colonisées par la mafia chiite, de la justice inféodée aux diktats politiques ainsi qu’à la politique de corruption institutionnalisée à tous les échelons, et des modulations d’un terrorisme qui opère de manière indiscriminée. Il s’agit d’un continuum qui s’est structuré de manière progressive et qui a fini par s’imposer comme un mode opératoire sur une scène politique entièrement subordonnée aux impératifs de la politique de domination chiite.
Il est impossible de dénouer ce nœud de vipères à moins de redresser les rapports de force, de changer de régime et de paver la voie à des choix institutionnels alternatifs. Le système en place est irréformable et ne peut en aucun cas autoriser des conversions devenues incontournables. Le lien entre les enjeux stratégiques et de gouvernance n’est pas accidentel, il relève désormais des conditions préjudicielles de la paix, des réformes institutionnelles et civiques dans un pays en état de déliquescence. Les chiites, indépendamment de leurs états de conscience et de l'impact de la guerre sur leur moral et leur jugement, se montrent réfractaires aux exigences d'un règlement négocié, d'une démocratie consociative et d'un renoncement à la volonté de domination qui caractérise leur narratif.
Le renoncement aux négociations avec l'État israélien fait suite à la répudiation de l'accord trilatéral et au boycott formel de la trêve proposés par l'administration américaine. Il s'agit explicitement d'un sabotage intentionnel, orchestré par un État libanais complice du diktat chiite. Les conséquences de ce renoncement vont bien au-delà des enjeux négociatoires, elles répercutent l'effondrement du contrat social et du récit national fondateur. Il s'agit d'une renonciation de souveraineté et d'une mise à mort du narratif national au bénéfice de la politique de domination chiite sans autre forme de procès. En d'autres termes, l'exécutif, qui se présente comme réformiste et souverainiste, s'avère résolument opposé à toutes les démarches diplomatiques. Celles-ci sont censées aider l'État libanais à restituer ses lettres de créance et à engager la diplomatie internationale sur la base d'une stratégie explicite qui l'aiderait à rétablir son autonomie opérationnelle.
La récapitulation de ces cas est suffisamment instructive pour comprendre les réalités d'une gouvernance libanaise piégée et soumise à des contraintes renouvelées, surtout dans le contexte du changement des rapports de force sur le plan régional. En outre, elle pourrait relancer les dynamiques politiques libanaises sur de nouvelles bases. Nous voilà donc ramenés au statu quo ante, dans un contexte de délabrement généralisé ainsi qu'un récit national inexistant. Le Liban se décompose en raison de l'effet conjugué des politiques de puissance islamiste, de leurs relais politiques domestiques et de l'effilochement des liens civiques qui pouvaient réunir les Libanais. La réhabilitation du convivium libanais devient invraisemblable et la reconstruction de l’État libanais improbable.

The Lebanese State and the Unlikely Reconstruction?
Dr. Charles Chartouni/ICI Beyrouth/October 22/2026 (Translated from French by AI)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/158487/
The episodes involving the trafficking of explosives and expired medications once again bring into sharp focus the fiction of the state and its direct collusion with the Shiite mafia. The state's incapacity stems from the ambiguous relationships it maintains with the Shiite duo, which navigates the murky waters of complicity in ways that advance the policy of Shiite domination.
This ambiguity is deliberately intended and maintained by both competing parties, each for its own reasons. The conclusion is straightforward: each finds its share in this perverse relationship, which persists despite the ambiguities surrounding it and its destructive consequences for a supposedly national society and a pseudo-rule-of-law state. We are facing a state of generalized decomposition in which the basic principles of the rule of law have been thoroughly distorted and instrumentalized in the service of a policy of domination that advances unabashedly.
This reality must be recognized for what it is, and the state of denial that characterizes the approach to the question of statehood in Lebanon must be abandoned. In other words, the current state structure was designed on the basis of these ambiguities, their constitutional fallacies, and an entire political ethos built around the lies that established and sustained the policies of Shiite domination.
It is this state deception that made it possible for a subversive enterprise to advance over the ruins of a rule-of-law state in the process of decay, while also providing cover for it and endorsing it. It is no coincidence that crime, terrorism, and delinquency have developed without impediment. The policy of land expropriation targeting Christians benefited from the complicity of public administrations insidiously colonized by the Shiite mafia, a judiciary subservient to political dictates, institutionalized corruption at every level, and the various manifestations of terrorism operating indiscriminately. This is a continuum that took shape progressively and ultimately established itself as an operating method on a political stage entirely subordinated to the imperatives of the policy of Shiite domination.
It is impossible to untangle this nest of vipers without redressing the balance of power, changing the regime, and paving the way for alternative institutional choices. The existing system is beyond reform and cannot, under any circumstances, permit the transformations that have become unavoidable. The connection between strategic stakes and governance is not accidental; it has now become one of the preconditions for peace and for institutional and civic reforms in a country undergoing disintegration. The Shiites, regardless of their states of awareness and the impact of the war on their morale and judgment, remain resistant to the requirements of a negotiated settlement, consociational democracy, and the abandonment of the will to dominate that characterizes their narrative.
The refusal to pursue negotiations with the Israeli state followed the repudiation of the trilateral agreement and the formal boycott of the truce proposed by the American administration. This is an explicit act of intentional sabotage, orchestrated by a Lebanese state complicit in the Shiite diktat. The consequences of this refusal go far beyond the stakes of the negotiations; they reflect the collapse of the social contract and the founding national narrative. It amounts to a renunciation of sovereignty and the killing of the national narrative for the benefit of the policy of Shiite domination, without further ado. In other words, the executive branch, which presents itself as reformist and sovereignist, proves to be firmly opposed to all diplomatic initiatives. These initiatives are supposed to help the Lebanese state restore its standing and credentials and engage international diplomacy on the basis of an explicit strategy that would help it reestablish its operational autonomy.
A review of these cases provides sufficient insight to understand the realities of Lebanese governance, trapped and subjected to renewed constraints, especially in the context of changing balances of power at the regional level. Moreover, it could revive Lebanese political dynamics on new foundations. We are therefore brought back to the previous status quo, amid generalized deterioration and the complete absence of a national narrative. Lebanon is disintegrating under the combined effect of Islamist power politics, their domestic political proxies, and the fraying of the civic ties that could have united the Lebanese. The restoration of Lebanese communal life has become implausible, and the reconstruction of the Lebanese state has become unlikely.

Europe's Settlement Boycotts Crush the Palestinians
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/October 22/2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22935/settlement-boycotts-crush-palestinians
The governments said their objective [with the boycotts] is to protect the "two-state solution" and respond to -- presumably meaning prevent -- "settlement expansion." To many Palestinians, of course, all of Israel is one big settlement to be dismantled.
As European governments increase economic pressure on Israel, Palestinians working in businesses in the settlements lose their jobs.
"Instead of building economic bridges between Israelis and Palestinians, some are choosing to tear them down. Industry creates jobs, stability and hope, while the boycott creates exactly the opposite." — Avraham Novogrotcki, president of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, Ynet, October 18, 2026.
For many Palestinians, employment in Israel or Israeli businesses in the West Bank is an important source of income in the Palestinian Authority economy, where opportunities are limited.
Do the Canadian and European governments imposing restrictions on Israeli settlements intend to offer these Palestinian workers comparable jobs? Have they established programs to help Palestinian businesses absorb thousands of displaced employees? Have they pledged funds to replace the incomes that may disappear as a result of their policies? Not a bit.
There is a precedent for what can happen when an Israeli factory employing Palestinians closes due to a boycott... In 2016, Reuters reported that approximately 500 Palestinian workers had lost their jobs after the [SodaStream] factory's relocation. Nabil Basharat, a father of seven, said he had worked for SodaStream for six years and become a department manager. "I used to make $2,000 a month or more and today I have nothing," he said at the time.
Terrorist organizations exploit such grievances by portraying economic hardship as further proof that coexistence and cooperation have failed. The result is greater instability, not progress toward peace.
The Europeans at the moment have their own problems with hostile minorities. To garner the votes of these "mostly peaceful protesters," many European leaders are apparently content to trample the Palestinians so long as the Jews can be punished for refusing to accept an openly genocidal bloc into their midst, as the Europeans so foolishly have done.
If European leaders genuinely want to improve Palestinian lives, they should... ask whether their restrictions will create new Palestinian jobs, expand Palestinian access to markets, strengthen independent businesses, or improve workers' rights. They should also explain what assistance will be available if factories close and employees are dismissed. Palestinians should not have to pay for Europe's anti-Israel campaigns and policies with their livelihoods.
There is a precedent for what can happen when an Israeli factory employing Palestinians closes due to a boycott, when in 2015 SodaStream relocated its factory from the Mishor Adumim industrial zone, and approximately 500 Palestinian workers lost their jobs.
On September 8, 2026, Canada, Britain, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden announced their intention to introduce national restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, support European-level measures, or consider similar action. The governments said their objective is to protect the "two-state solution" and respond to -- presumably meaning prevent -- "settlement expansion." To many Palestinians, of course, all of Israel is one big settlement to be dismantled.
Some restrictions are already in force. Ireland's prohibition on importing designated settlement goods took effect on September 15, followed by a Dutch ban on the import, purchase and sale of such goods on September 20. Other countries have announced plans or are considering additional restrictions.
These are not all components of one uniform import ban. The measures differ from country to country, and some remain proposals. The restrictions, in addition, do not generally prohibit all Israeli products: they target only goods originating in West Bank settlements where Jews live.
Nevertheless, the direction is clear. As European governments increase economic pressure on Israel, Palestinians working in businesses in the settlements lose their jobs.
According to a report by Israel's Ynet news website, Israeli industry representatives have already reported declining overseas orders and the cancellation of long-term distribution contracts. Industrial zones such as Barkan, Mishor Adumim, and Ariel, where Israeli-owned factories employ Palestinians from surrounding West Bank communities, are particularly vulnerable.
Avraham Novogrotcki, president of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, described the boycott of factories in the Israeli settlements as a measure that primarily harms Palestinian workers and their families.
"The boycott of factories in Judea and Samaria is a cynical measure that first and foremost harms Palestinian workers," Novogrotcki said.
"While various organizations present it as a moral step, in practice those paying the price are thousands of workers and their families who are losing a stable and dignified source of income. Instead of building economic bridges between Israelis and Palestinians, some are choosing to tear them down. Industry creates jobs, stability and hope, while the boycott creates exactly the opposite."
European politicians may see these restrictions as a statement of principle. For a Palestinian father who loses his job, however, the consequences will be measured in lost wages, unpaid bills, and difficulty supporting his family.
For many Palestinians, employment in Israel or Israeli businesses in the West Bank is an important source of income in the Palestinian Authority economy, where opportunities are limited.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) has documented the importance of this employment. In a 2017 report, the ILO said average wages earned by Palestinians working in Israel and Israeli West Bank settlements were more than twice those earned in the Palestinian Authority. It also reported that approximately one-quarter of the total wage income of Palestinians in the West Bank came from employment in Israel and Israeli settlements.
Earlier this year, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that about 48,000 Palestinians from the West Bank were employed in Israel and Israeli settlements in the first quarter of 2025. The number of workers in Israeli settlements reached 17,600 in the first quarter of 2026.
Do the Canadian and European governments imposing restrictions on Israeli settlements intend to offer these Palestinian workers comparable jobs? Have they established programs to help Palestinian businesses absorb thousands of displaced employees? Have they pledged funds to replace the incomes that may disappear as a result of their policies? Not a bit.
Their public announcements have concentrated on restricting trade from settlements. They have not set out a comprehensive replacement-employment plan for the Palestinians who could be affected.
There is a precedent for what can happen when an Israeli factory employing Palestinians closes due to a boycott.
SodaStream became a target of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement because it operated a factory in the Mishor Adumim industrial zone.
In 2015, the company closed that factory and transferred production to a new plant in southern Israel. The relocation, together with subsequent disputes over work permits, resulted in hundreds of Palestinians losing their jobs.
In 2016, Reuters reported that approximately 500 Palestinian workers had lost their jobs after the factory's relocation. Nabil Basharat, a father of seven, said he had worked for SodaStream for six years and become a department manager. "I used to make $2,000 a month or more and today I have nothing," he said at the time.
Some BDS campaigners advocate economic isolation that goes well beyond the Israeli settlements. Their campaigns often present boycotts as an act of solidarity with Palestinians, yet the experience of Palestinian workers employed by targeted companies demonstrates that economic pressure falls on the very people they claim to support.
There is also a broader question about the relationship between employment and coexistence. In factories where Israelis and Palestinians work together, workers have practical reasons to cooperate: completing production, earning salaries, and keeping their businesses operating. These everyday relationships do not resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but neither should they be dismissed as irrelevant.
Removing economic opportunities can deepen frustration and insecurity, and contribute to radicalization and violence. It is irresponsible to ignore the danger of leaving families without income while offering no realistic alternative.
Terrorist organizations exploit such grievances by portraying economic hardship as further proof that coexistence and cooperation have failed. The result is greater instability, not progress toward peace.
A political declaration from EU governments may win applause at home. A boycott campaign may satisfy European activists. Yet neither pays a Palestinian worker's bills or feeds his children.
The Europeans at the moment have their own problems with hostile minorities. To garner the votes of these "mostly peaceful protesters," many European leaders are apparently content to trample the Palestinians so long as the Jews can be punished for refusing to accept an openly genocidal bloc into their midst, as the Europeans so foolishly have done.
If European leaders genuinely want to improve Palestinian lives, they should measure their policies by their practical results. They should ask whether their restrictions will create new Palestinian jobs, expand Palestinian access to markets, strengthen independent businesses, or improve workers' rights. They should also explain what assistance will be available if factories close and employees are dismissed. Palestinians should not have to pay for Europe's anti-Israel campaigns and policies with their livelihoods.
*Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
*Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
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Sudan Confronts a War of Economics and Drones
Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Wars are not fought with weapons alone, nor are their outcomes decided solely on the battlefield. There are other fronts no less dangerous, foremost among them the economic front, where citizens’ suffering and the pressures of daily life can become tools for undermining social cohesion and public confidence in state institutions. Sudan, which has been engulfed in a fierce war since April 2023, is now facing a complex convergence of military confrontation, economic pressure and escalating drone attacks at an exceptionally sensitive time.
This escalation coincides with advances made by the Sudanese army and allied forces on the battlefronts, particularly in the west of the country. Under such circumstances, living conditions become part of the conflict equation. If economic hardship worsens without an effective government response, it can erode citizens’ patience.Sudanese citizens today are living at the heart of the storm. The crisis is evident in the continuous and volatile rise in commodity prices, the erosion of incomes and the decline in household purchasing power. People go to bed amid a fuel crisis and wake up to a bread crisis, while salaries fail to cover basic needs. The burden grows heavier with students returning to school, as education and transportation costs rise and options narrow for low-income families.
Against this backdrop, some government decisions, such as the ban on fava bean imports, raise questions about the extent to which their immediate impact on markets and citizens’ livelihoods has been taken into account. Even decisions intended to protect local production or regulate trade require careful assessment of their consequences.
It is not enough for the government to make decisions and then expect citizens to bear the consequences. It must explain the reasoning behind them, disclose their objectives, clarify the available alternatives and indicate how long it will take for their results to materialize. Effective communication is not a media luxury. It is part of crisis management and an essential element in strengthening the home front. The pressures facing Sudan are inseparable from disruptions in the global economy. The Russia-Ukraine war has cast a shadow over energy and grain markets, while regional tensions, amid the US-Israeli confrontation with Iran and the war in Yemen, have further disrupted oil and gas supplies and trade through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab.These developments are reflected in the cost of importing fuel, fertilizers and agricultural inputs, increasing the burden on domestic farming and weakening the ability of many farmers to continue production. This is compounded by climate fluctuations and scarce rainfall, which could lead to lower crop yields and place further pressure on food prices.
In this context, the authorities raised the customs exchange rate for the dollar by more than 29 percent, in the fifth adjustment since the beginning of the year, coinciding with the dollar’s exchange rate on the parallel market reaching record levels. As a result, import costs rise, with the effects passed on to commodity prices, requiring a careful assessment of the social and productive repercussions.The war has forced the state to devote a large share of its limited resources to the war effort. While protecting the country and its institutions remains an overriding necessity as the fighting continues, prolonging the war means further depletion of resources and deeper suffering for citizens. This makes the pursuit of political and societal consensus no less important than strengthening defensive capabilities.
Hence the importance of a national dialogue that broadens participation, addresses the roots of the crisis and lays the foundations for solutions that safeguard Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any serious dialogue process requires national will, practical guarantees and an environment that allows social and political forces to participate without exclusion.
Obstructing such a process, whether because of the calculations of domestic parties or external interference, risks prolonging the war and increasing its humanitarian and economic costs.
What is needed today is an emergency plan to ease the burden on citizens. It should include ensuring supplies of essential goods and fuel, reviewing decisions that have a direct impact on prices, expanding support for those most severely affected and guaranteeing that supplies reach areas in need. Yet however important an immediate response may be, it will not suffice without a strategic vision that addresses the structural imbalances in the economy.
Sudan possesses considerable resources: the Nile and its tributaries, rainfall and groundwater, agricultural land, livestock and minerals. These resources offer an opportunity for development, but they can also become a source of competing interests and ambitions in the absence of strong institutions and sound governance. Agriculture and food security should therefore be at the forefront of the national project, through investment in irrigation, improved seeds, access to financing, fertilizers and fuel, the rehabilitation of roads and storage and processing facilities, and better links between production and markets. Only then can the vision of Sudan as the breadbasket of the Arab world be transformed into a reality that serves its citizens first and opens broader horizons for exports and development.
Sudan’s battle is not merely a battle of arms, nor is it solely a struggle over prices and resources. It is a battle over the state’s ability to endure, the citizen’s right to a dignified life and the future of a country with the resources and potential to rise again. True victory will come when the sacrifices of the present are transformed into a national project that delivers peace, stability and production, and makes Sudan’s wealth a source of strength for its people rather than a cause of their depletion.

Deliberate and Intentional
Samir Atallah/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Ever since Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued his national appeal before Egypt’s parliament regarding the military partnership with Saudi Arabia, Arabs have realized that the prospect of conflict has become a present reality.
When a country like Egypt makes a decision of this kind and adopts a position with such far-reaching implications, it is clear that its foremost consideration is Egypt itself and the protection of its national standing.
Wars are not a pastime for Egypt. But Egypt knows better than most how dangerous their sparks can be and how easily they can spread, particularly in a tense and rapidly escalating regional and global climate.
Of course, the first option, and the first choice, in Cairo, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the Arab Gulf is the path of reason. Take precautions, then place your trust in God. This is the difference between states and militias.
The former bear responsibility for their people, their territory, their security and their safety. The latter do not know the difference, nor do they care to.
Militias have crossed every boundary and violated every norm and convention in order to set peaceful havens ablaze. They have disregarded agreements and unleashed a costly, bloody and futile race of polarization, blackmail and recklessness.
Take another look at this volcanic map, and your first impression will only be reinforced: Egypt stands at the heart of the storms stretching from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. For Egypt, Palestine has been both a domestic and a foreign concern from the very beginning, and it remains so today.
The arrogance of the militias, their lawlessness, their determination to expand in every direction, and their willingness to jeopardize the sovereignty and security of states through threats and attacks have brought the region, for the first time amid its many crises, into its most far-reaching, deliberate and targeted crisis yet. Not to mention that it is also the crisis most deliberately directed at civilians, innocent people and their livelihoods.
It is a crisis, or rather an ordeal, in which indiscriminate and deliberate violence have become indistinguishable, running in parallel with the deliberate aim of widening the harm and deepening the wounds of the other side.

What Iran Failed to Achieve is Being Repeated with the Houthis!
Huda al-Husseini/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
At a debate held at Georgetown University in Washington a few days ago, two former national security advisers from US President Donald Trump’s previous administration, John Bolton and Robert O’Brien, took part. Both left their posts after sharp disagreements with the president and have since become among the staunchest critics of Trump’s thinking and approach.
Bolton and O’Brien agreed that the military campaign against Iran would intensify after the midterm elections, regardless of the outcome. They also argued that the US policy of rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the lifting of sanctions on Russia are aimed at achieving several objectives, foremost among them neutralizing Russia in the US-Iran confrontation in exchange for halting military support for Ukraine, launching a process to end the war, and stopping the Russian bloodletting that has continued for more than four years.
The two former officials also agreed that resolving the confrontation with Iran militarily is no longer an option but a necessity. The survival of the Iranian regime would effectively amount to a defeat for the United States, something no one expects to happen.
Yet Trump’s personality, which O’Brien described as bordering on narcissism, will influence his future decisions and could make him more aggressive should the Republican Party lose the midterm elections. During the remainder of his term, the US president will be focused on his political legacy, and he will not accept being remembered as the American president who failed most conspicuously to deliver on the promises and objectives he pledged to achieve.
On the other hand, the Iranian regime ultimately fails to recognize that its people are exhausted, its economy is bankrupt, and its regional influence is shrinking. What remains of that influence is being steadily dismantled as the leaders of its proxies are assassinated, their positions destroyed, and their weaknesses and falsehoods exposed. Iranian state media argue that the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab are cards the Trump administration failed to take into account, and that using them will lead to a rift between Washington and its allies, especially the Europeans, who are already grappling with economic, social, and political difficulties. But the regime has failed to study carefully the experience of Gamal Abdel Nasser, who played the cards of closing the Straits of Tiran and the Suez Canal and blockading the port of Aqaba. The result was the catastrophe of the Six-Day War in June 1967, whose repercussions the Arab world continues to endure. Just as the late Arab leader believed that the Soviet Union, under a mutual defense treaty, would come to his aid and would not allow a major war to be launched against the United Arab Republic, the pillars of the Iranian regime believe that Russia and China will prevent its collapse and stand firmly behind it against American “imperialism.”
Yet Iran’s leaders, particularly the commanders of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), fail to understand that the interests of major powers, a club to which they certainly do not belong, take precedence over treaties, values, and principles. Nasser was not saved by his defense treaty with the Soviet Union, which was seeking to bring the Cold War to an end and had entered into complex secret negotiations with the US to reach a strategic arms limitation agreement. Nor will the Russians intervene to rescue Iran while they are seeking Trump’s help in ending the war in Ukraine.
The Iranian regime, which is effectively run by IRGC commanders, continues to seek to export its revolution and expand its influence. Iran’s deputy foreign minister calls for arming the Lebanese people to resist, while Hezbollah, an arm of the IRGC, attempts to restore its influence through motorcycles that spread chaos and fear through Beirut’s neighborhoods, as though the world around the group had not changed.
The Syrian supply route has been permanently cut off, Israel has come to control most of southern Lebanon, with no deterrent and no one to restrain it, financial resources have diminished, and the budgets of many affiliated departments and institutions have been cut. Meanwhile, the group’s support base, both privately and increasingly in public, has neither the desire nor the ability to continue enduring the hardship.
As in Lebanon, so too in Yemen: the IRGC launches its missiles at civilian targets in Saudi Arabia through the Houthi group, seeking to sow chaos and confusion in the Kingdom and send a message to the US administration that the security of the Gulf and the wider region, from the sea to the river, is in its hands, regardless of whether the price is further destruction and death in Yemen and Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia, however, understands well what the IRGC is seeking to achieve and is proceeding with wisdom and restraint. It also recognizes that the Iranian regime is crumbling and acting recklessly, much as Saddam Hussein did during his withdrawal from Kuwait, when he set Kuwaiti oil facilities ablaze. American companies specializing in extinguishing oil fires ultimately benefited from his actions, receiving around $750 million for their work.
According to a security official, the US can rein in the Houthis by strengthening Saudi Arabia’s defensive capabilities and disrupting the group’s weapons supplies, while maintaining its military focus on confronting Iran and avoiding being drawn into a prolonged war of attrition in Yemen.
This approach begins with improving early-warning capabilities, expanding intelligence sharing with Riyadh, and linking surveillance and interception systems within an integrated defense network. It also requires ensuring a steady supply of interceptor missiles, enabling Saudi Arabia to counter simultaneous attacks targeting civilians, airports, and oil facilities while maintaining its operational readiness.
At the same time, Washington and its partners could tighten monitoring of smuggling routes, disrupt financing and supply networks, and prevent missile and drone components from reaching the Houthis. Weakening the group’s ability to replace its losses and manufacture its own weapons would reduce the frequency of attacks and limit the need for continuous US strikes that deplete munitions, aircraft, and reconnaissance assets.
The same security official added that direct military intervention should, when necessary, be restricted to exceptionally important targets, with any strikes based on precise intelligence and a clear military benefit, while carefully assessing the risks of escalation and protecting civilians.
The official warned that demonstrative strikes could unravel the de-escalation between Washington and the Houthis and trigger a chain of confrontations that would divert US resources from the Iranian front.
Supporting Saudi Arabia’s defenses, choking off Houthi supply lines, and carefully selecting limited operations would therefore make it possible to protect the Kingdom and weaken one of Tehran’s instruments without dispersing US military power or giving Iran an opportunity to prolong the war and drive up its cost for the United States and its regional partners.

Libya Remains Hostage to Those Obstructing a Solution
Jebril Elabidi/Asharq Al-awsat/October 22/2026
Perhaps the UN envoy to Libya, Hanna Tetteh, offered part of the truth in her briefing to the Security Council, especially since it centered on those obstructing a solution in Libya- without naming them, as is her habit, even though they are in her records by name and photograph, and without disclosing their entities or brandishing sanctions against them. She has proved her failure to resolve the Libyan crisis time after time, and eleven envoys preceded Tetteh in this failure. Her briefing is therefore empty of content, without use, taste, or color. She has long dealt in generalities without mentioning the details, "where the devil lies."
Despite the American threat to impose sanctions on those obstructing a solution in Libya, American policy toward Libya has proved the opposite, showing no seriousness about implementation, notwithstanding the statement by Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, alternate representative for special political affairs at the US mission to the United Nations, that individuals and entities obstructing the transition may be subject to Security Council sanctions. Britain, for its part, is proposing a scheme resembling "oil for food" in Libya.
The threat of sanctions will remain far from realistic implementation, particularly since the Libyan crisis is still being used as a card for pressure, negotiation, and sometimes political "blackmail" in international and regional questions. The Libyan crisis has therefore remained in ebb and flow according to the movement of conflict in the world. The Libyan file is not far from the crisis in Ukraine, nor even from the crisis of the Strait of Hormuz, both files tied to the outside intervener, Russian and American, and the Libyan file is used as a playing card between gain and loss.
Often the Security Council behaves as though it were one of the obstructers of a solution in Libya. It has met and listened dozens of times to the international envoys to Libya, and Hanna Tetteh will not be the last in this series. Yet it has not even voted on the latest agreement, known as "4+4," which legitimizes power-sharing among the actors on the ground and enjoys near-unanimous Libyan support, with the exception of the rejecting party, the current of political Islam.
Libya, the land of perfumes, flowers, and henna, became a victim of the "Arab Spring" and then of NATO's strikes, through which the entire state collapsed as an entity in 2011, not merely the regime. Today it suffers from those obstructing a consensual solution, at home and abroad. The obstructers' purposes are varied; they are not of one heart, but their hearts and ambitions are many. Even the elected official institutions, such as parliament, have today become part of the problem, indeed of the very core of obstruction, to say nothing of the other parallel unelected institutions such as the High Council of State and the Presidential Council, the hybrid product of the Geneva agreement, whose mandate has also expired. All the political institutions have turned into something like private parties, each contesting legitimacy with the other.
None of the political institutions wants a solution, and all their legitimate mandates have expired. A solution would end their existence; they feed and live on the continuation of the dispute.
After division ruled the High Council of State, with two rival presidencies contesting before the courts, parliament now faces the same fate of fragmentation and division, like all of Libya's political institutions, which remain in permanent dispute, trading roles of intransigence and refusal. What matters to them is that there be no agreement among them, because that is the secret of all of them remaining in power, and of the political scene continuing unchanged for more than twelve consecutive years without elections.
Libya today is hostage to the obstructers despite the UN's "threats" to impose sanctions on them. Those threats have remained a voice without an echo, with no effect. The obstructers have gone on blocking and circumventing all the previous agreements, the latest of them the Geneva agreement, which the government and the Presidential Council have overstayed by five years of rule without legitimate basis or even electoral cover. Nothing in the agreement has been achieved, neither elections nor national reconciliation, which were the foundation of the function of the Geneva government, named the Government of National Unity. Neither was unity achieved, nor was it a national government.
The regrettable thing about Libya's crisis is that those who hold the keys to the solution are the ones obstructing it, whether inside or outside the country. There is a "local, regional, and international veto" on obstructing a solution in Libya. What is wanted is for Libya to remain marking time in political division, with neither victor nor vanquished along the Sirte-Jufra line, where Libya was divided by the "geography of the ceasefire" between the two sides.
Libya's wealth- its oil, gas, gold, and even the water reserves deep beneath the desert- all count among the reasons for prolonging the crisis and obstructing a solution. Everyone wants Libya divided and fragmented, to make it easier to plunder. When Libya was a single, strong state, they could not plunder a single barrel of oil. Today entire wells are plundered, billions vanish from the Libyan treasury, and the gold reserves have all been looted- and every case has been filed by the police against persons unknown.
Those obstructing a solution in Libya are not only Libyans. They go beyond the Libyan chess pieces used to stir up the internal crisis, to states that cannot be threatened with sanctions or even with criticism. When the disputes among those fighting over the Libyan cake end, there will be a workable solution, and coexistence will prevail in Libya.

Global security depends on Saudi Arabia’s security
Zaid AlKami/Al Arabiya English/22 October/2026
International responses to the threats posed to Saudi Arabia by the Houthi terrorist group are no longer limited to statements of condemnation and solidarity. They are increasingly taking more practical and proactive forms, reflecting a growing recognition that Saudi Arabia’s security is not merely a Saudi or regional concern, but a fundamental pillar of global stability, the world economy, energy security and international trade. This was underscored by a British statement issued two days ago, announcing that British Typhoon fighter jets had carried out defensive missions to help protect Saudi airspace against Houthi missiles and drones. The statement noted that “escalating violence in the Gulf region could have serious consequences for the United Kingdom, including higher living costs, disruptions to energy supplies and increased costs for British businesses. Such escalation also causes widespread destruction and suffering among civilians in Yemen.”France’s position was equally clear, with Paris emphasizing that it would make military arrangements to help protect Saudi Arabia’s vital facilities. Italy also expressed its support. At the regional level, Egypt’s position was even more explicit, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declaring that his country was prepared to take any measures requested by Saudi Arabia to safeguard its security. He reaffirmed Egypt’s full solidarity with the Kingdom, citing the historic relations and strong bonds between the peoples of the two brotherly nations, which together form the heart of the Arab world. His position also reflected Egypt’s conviction that Saudi national security is inseparable from Egyptian and broader Arab national security. These international moves send a clear message: Saudi Arabia’s stability is closely tied to global interests that extend far beyond the region. This was also highlighted by the Saudi Cabinet during its meeting on Tuesday, chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The Cabinet emphasized that strengthening regional stability and limiting the consequences of conflicts and tensions for global energy security, international trade, the sustainability of supply chains and maritime navigation are shared responsibilities. Meeting these challenges requires international cooperation to prevent risks that could threaten the global economy and affect countries around the world.
Countries around the world therefore recognize that the consequences of any threat to Saudi Arabia would not stop at the Kingdom’s borders. They would ripple across the globe, affecting international energy markets, maritime traffic, supply chains, and production and transportation costs. All of these factors would directly influence the prices of goods and services paid by consumers worldwide.
These international positions also underscore the seriousness of the attacks carried out by the Houthi terrorist group against Saudi Arabia’s vital facilities, including industrial and oil installations in the Eastern Province and Yanbu, as well as civilian infrastructure such as King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. These attacks follow earlier assaults targeting the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina. Beyond their immediate impact, such attacks raise serious concerns about the security of the Two Holy Mosques and the safety of Umrah pilgrims and visitors from around the world, as well as the protection of industrial and energy facilities and critical infrastructure. Targeting vital sites is not simply an attack on one country. It also carries risks for civilians, visitors and pilgrims, while threatening the security of essential supplies and the stability of global markets. As the scope of these threats expands, so too does the need for a clear international position rejecting attacks on civilians and the targeting of civilian and economic facilities.
Confronting the threats facing Saudi Arabia is therefore not merely an act of political solidarity, but part of a shared international responsibility to protect civilians and safeguard vital infrastructure. Attacks carried out by the Houthi terrorist group against Saudi Arabia must not become normalized or be treated by other countries as an unchangeable reality. Respect for international law, the protection of civilians and the prohibition of attacks on civilian infrastructure are principles that must be applied consistently, without double standards. Upholding these principles requires firm international positions and practical mechanisms to prevent such attacks from recurring. Recent developments have demonstrated that Saudi Arabia’s security is inseparable from the security of the region and the wider world, and that Riyadh’s stability is a shared interest of nations and peoples, not merely a matter of temporary political alignment.

US must incorporate Houthi threat into its Iran strategy
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/October 22, 2026
The intensification of Houthi military operations across Yemen and into Saudi Arabia in recent weeks highlights the need for a more decisive element within US policy toward Iran’s regional network.
The Iran-backed Houthi forces have this month launched missile and drone strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing more than a dozen people and wounding hundreds, targeted Saudi Aramco facilities, struck the presidential palace complex in Aden and hit Yemeni government training camps, with one attack killing as many as 73 recruits. On Wednesday, two people were killed in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.
These actions have reignited fighting in Yemen, deepened an already severe humanitarian crisis and added volatility to global energy markets and shipping routes.
When the US devises its strategy toward Iran, it is essential that the Houthis are not treated as outside the core parameters of that strategy. A central pillar must recognize that the Houthis function as an operational extension — an arm — of the Iranian government.
When a terrorist or militia group reaches the stage of systematically attacking civilians, expanding operations across borders and employing sustained violence, limited defensive measures or a purely diplomatic approach are insufficient to produce restraint.
Groups that operate at this level of aggression respond most clearly to the credible prospect of being stopped. Groups that operate at this level of aggression respond most clearly to the credible prospect of being stopped. Silence or waiting for exhaustion does not alter their trajectory. If they perceive that they are advancing, they tend to increase the scale of their actions. A strong military response capable of thoroughly degrading their capacity to project force therefore becomes a necessary component of any effective approach.
The US has previously demonstrated the military capability to impose meaningful costs on the Houthis. During earlier periods of concentrated operations, particularly those conducted in coordination with partners, Houthi attack rates were reduced and some operational patterns were disrupted. That record shows that American forces, working with European allies, the internationally recognized Yemeni government and regional partners including Saudi Arabia, possess the means to degrade Houthi capabilities substantially. A focused, coordinated campaign of this kind could achieve decisive results in a matter of days by targeting command nodes, weapons production and storage sites, and launch infrastructure.
For the US, this tactical requirement is directly linked to the broader strategic objective of countering Iran and bringing it to the negotiating table. As long as Iranian allies and proxies such as the Houthis retain the ability to conduct attacks of this nature, Iran itself will continue to feel emboldened. Tehran has little incentive to negotiate seriously and in good faith or to make concessions on issues such as its enriched uranium stockpile while its forward proxies continue to operate with effect.
The US ought to recognize the fact that when Iran’s proxies remain strong, Tehran feels strong and is less inclined to back down. Weakening those proxies is therefore equivalent to weakening Iran.
There is no serious dispute that Iran, through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has acted as a sponsor of the Houthis. The Wall Street Journal this week detailed how Iranian support has included the provision of targeting intelligence, training and tactical guidance and related assistance that has enabled Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia and its partners. Iranian officers have been described as contributing to the identification of targets and the direction of operations.
The tactics the Houthis have employed — striking countries that are not the primary parties to a direct conflict with Iran and focusing on civilian and economic infrastructure — parallel methods long associated with Iranian regional practice. Saudi Arabia, which was not a party to the war, did not initiate offensive operations against Iran or its proxies and had instead sought to promote peace and regional stability through diplomatic efforts. It has now absorbed repeated missile and drone attacks on its airports and energy facilities. This pattern of externalizing pressure while limiting direct risk to Iranian territory remains a consistent feature of the approach.
A firmer US posture does not need to involve open-ended commitments. It can take the form of clear prioritization by treating Houthi military capacity as a core component of the Iranian threat network. Therefore, the US can coordinate kinetic pressure with partners who share the operational burden, interdicting residual flows of Iranian materiel and expertise, and sustaining focused efforts long enough to produce lasting degradation of attack capacity.
Iranian officers have been described as contributing to the identification of targets and the direction of operations
Such an approach would reinforce freedom of navigation through critical maritime chokepoints, strengthen regional stability, enhance the credibility of deterrence and improve the prospects for any durable diplomatic outcome with Tehran. Recognizing the Houthis as an integral arm of Iranian power projection, and acting accordingly, strengthens rather than complicates the overall strategy.
In conclusion, the Houthis are increasing their aggression in ways that inflict damage domestically within Yemen, regionally across the Arabian Peninsula and globally through disruptions to energy markets and maritime commerce. It is therefore important that the US fully incorporates the Houthis into its Iran strategy. The Houthis function as an extension of the Iranian government. Allowing continued Houthi aggression would embolden Iran itself, reducing incentives for Tehran to negotiate or restrain its broader activities. For these reasons, the US needs a firmer stance against the Houthis. Past operations have already shown that Washington possesses the military capability to stop or significantly degrade them. Working with partners — including the internationally recognized Yemeni government, regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and European partners — the US can bring an end to Houthi aggression and the killing of innocents in a very short period of time.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a political scientist specializing in U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East and is a Harvard-educated scholar. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu or on X at @Dr_Rafizadeh.
 

Selected Face Book & X tweets on October 22-23/2026