English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For October 29/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.october29.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
Give therefore to the emperor the things
that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s
Matthew 22/15-22/:”The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in
what he said.So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians,
saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in
accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard
people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes
to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you
putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And
they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and
whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give
therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the
things that are God’s.’When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him
and went away.”
Titles For The English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related
News & Editorials published on October 28-29/2026
Arab Citizens of Israel Are the Only Arabs Across the Entire Arab and
Islamic World Who Exercise Their Right to Vote Freely/Elias Bejjani/October
28/2026
Re-electing Benjamin Netanyahu Is a Lebanese, Regional, and International
Strategic Interest: He Is Fighting Political Islam in Both Its Forms on Behalf
of a Complacent West and Its Threatened Civilization/Elias Bejjani/October
26/2026
After warning.. huge Israeli explosion in the vicinity of Deir Mimas
End of counting in Israeli elections... slight lead for Netanyahu
Aoun: No solution except through dialogue... Salam: No retreat from extending
state authority
Lebanese Forces ministers to boycott cabinet session tomorrow and a statement by
Qassem tonight
Lebanon-Israel negotiations... deadlock awaiting new power balances
Where did the party see Lebanese submission to Washington.. in restricting
weapons or Dahr al-Baidar?
Lebanon’s Aoun Says Israeli Attacks Obstruct Agreement, US Efforts Yield No
Results
Because of Dahr al-Baidar shipment... "Lebanese Forces" ministers escalate and
boycott cabinet session
Escalation in the South: Artillery targeting of western and central sectors and
series of field explosions
Escalation in south and messages to Beirut.. anticipated raids and absence of
"Hezbollah" ministers from government
Dahr al-Baidar explosives file before new judicial station... Who will be
charged and what did investigation reveal?
Public announcement from U.S. Embassy in Lebanon: Visa services continue and
activation of direct communication plan with nationals
Qabalan: Protecting Coexistence and National Unity Is a Priority
Report: Hezbollah hasn't given state guarantees on staying out of war
Artillery shells south Lebanon as Israelis await poll results
Erdogan's son to make key visit to Lebanon next month
LF ministers to boycott Thursday's cabinet session
Jumblat defends views as Hezbollah MP slams blatant US 'interference'
Hezbollah is rearming against Lebanon/Makram Rabah/Al Arabiya English/October
28/2026
Lebanon Does Not Have a Vote in Israel’s Election, So Why Is It Acting Like It
Does?/Elissa El Hachem/Now Lebanon/October 28/2026
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on October 28-29/2026
Iran sees only unacceptable ideas in latest mediation to end war,
official says
Iranians cut essentials and put dreams on hold as war-hit economy bites
Iran Warns Any Israeli-led Attack Would be 'Devastating' for Global Markets
Qatari Mediators Present Iran with New Deal to End the War, Official Says
US Costs of Iran War Rise to Over $47 Billion, According to Pentagon Estimate
Grossi: No Signs Iran Tried to Repair Nuclear Facilities Damaged in US Strikes
Kuwait Summons Iranian Ambassador after Embassy Statement on 'Plot'
Netanyahu falls short of majority as opposition, Arab parties win 67 Seats
Netanyahu, Eisenkot Stake Rival Claims to Lead Israel After Deadlocked Vote
What’s Ahead as Votes Are Counted in an Israeli Election with No Clear Winner
Arab Parties in Israel Signal Readiness to Help Oust Netanyahu
Iraqi PM Visits Syria as Neighbors Seek to Boost Economic Ties
Serbia: ‘ISIS Supporter’ Killed after Attacking Guard Outside Israeli Embassy
Two Drones Shot Down Near US Embassy in Baghdad, Sparking Security Alert
Al-Sharaa: Syrian-Iraqi Borders Are Completely Secure, ISIS Threats Have Dropped
France Says Israel Vote Will Not Deter Push for Two-State Solution
Jordanian Source: Areas Outside Govt Control in South Syria Are Haven for
Terrorists, Drug Traffickers
Yemeni Govt Forces Press Advance on Houthis Near Bab al-Mandeb, in Taiz
Zelensky Fears New Yalta at Russia-China-US Summit
Local Ukraine Ceasefire Holds for Second Day
Flavio Bolsonaro and Family to Receive US Visas After Leaving Brazil, State
Department Says
Hegseth Proposes ‘Ambitious’ US-ASEAN Defense Framework at Philippine Summit
ISIS Militants Kill at Least 20 Somali Soldiers in Ambush
French Senate Passes Bill to Make Protesters Pay for Unrest Damage
Yemen's Houthis attack Aden airport after calling for immediate evacuation
Houthi media says Saudi strike on petrol station in Yemen kills 12
Coalition: Air Defenses Intercept, Destroy Houthi Ballistic Missile Launched
Toward Taif
Yemen appeals for help for civilians as Houthis tighten the siege of Taiz
Houthi missile targeting Aden airport raises civil aviation safety concerns
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on October 28-29/2026
Who Verifies Artificial Intelligence? When AI Learns Jew-Hate/Pierre
Rehov/Gatestone Institute/October 28, 2026
Arab Christians: A Partnership in Civilization and Destiny/Emile Ameen/Asharq
Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
The Priorities of Minister Lana Nusseibeh Should She Assume the Duties of UN
Secretary-General/Abdallah Yahya Al-Mouallimi/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
We and the Global Economic War/Abdulaziz Mohammed Alajlan/Asharq Al-Awsat/October
28/2026
Jordan’s Crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood Is Far From Over/Ahmad Sharawi/FDD-
Policy Brief/October 28/2026
Tehran’s jihadi threat has only been growing since/Clifford D. May/The
Washington Times/October 28/2026
Hezbollah Explosives Debunk Lebanon’s Sovereignty Myth/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This
Is Beirut/October 28/2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on October 28/2026
Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 28-29/2026
(Some of the News reports below are
translated from Arabic by AI)
Arab Citizens of Israel Are the Only Arabs Across the Entire Arab and
Islamic World Who Exercise Their Right to Vote Freely
Elias Bejjani/October 28/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/158647/
What Are the Differences Between Democratic Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood
and Leftist Cancer That Weeps Over “Genocide” While Slaughtering Its Own People?
In practical terms, Arab citizens of Israel, who make up approximately 20% of
the population, are arguably the only Arabs across the Arab and Islamic world
who exercise their right to vote, establish political parties, and enjoy
political rights comparable to those available to them and others in Western
countries—the so-called “infidel lands.”
How astonishing! In an Arab and Islamic world groaning under the yoke of kings,
princes, dictators, and jihadists, with not a single exception, where there are
no genuine elections, no free press, and no opposition figures who emerge from
prison except as corpses, the stupid and destructive Left and the terrorist
Islamist movements, both Sunni and Shiite, shout day and night: “Israel is
racist! Israel is committing genocide! Throw the Jews into the sea!”
Then Israeli elections take place, and Arab citizens of Israel turn out to vote
freely, becoming kingmakers who can determine who will become prime minister.
They negotiate, bargain, threaten to withdraw their support, and secure
ministries and budgets… in a state supposedly defined as “racist and genocidal.”
Meanwhile, in their countries of origin, from Tehran to Riyadh, and through
Cairo, Damascus, Algiers, Sudan, and Jakarta, citizens cannot criticize their
rulers except in whispers, lest they find themselves in a prison cell or a mass
grave.
This spectacle alone is enough to expose the lies. The Left, which weeps over
“human rights” in Palestine, forgets that Arab and Islamic regimes are living
museums of repression and tyranny. Political Islam—this cancer that branches
directly from the Muslim Brotherhood—shouts “jihad” against Israel while
slaughtering Sunnis in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen; oppressing women in Iran,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; and turning every country it controls
into an open-air prison from which its own people flee to the “lands of the
infidels”—the countries of the West.
Yes, the Muslim Brotherhood cancer. It helped turn the Arab Spring into a bloody
autumn, exports jihadist rhetoric, and views every Western democracy as an
opportunity to “Islamize” it from within. Arab and Muslim migrants go to
extraordinary lengths to reach Europe, America, and Canada, fleeing poverty,
repression, and tyranny. Yet, once settled, the majority allegedly begin
demanding that these countries be transformed into distorted versions of the
very countries they fled: compulsory hijab, Sharia law, gender segregation, and
rejection of any criticism of Islam. Someone once asked with bitter sarcasm: If
you succeed in turning the West into Islamic states like your own countries,
where will you migrate next?
Israel, with all its flaws and conflicts, remains the only state in the region
where Arab citizens exercise their right to vote, protest, and enjoy genuine
political representation. Meanwhile, revolutionary Iran executes protesters,
Saudi Arabia carries out beheadings, and Indonesia, the world’s largest
Muslim-majority country, continues to face serious challenges concerning genuine
freedom of expression. Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen… all serve as
examples of a political culture that views democracy as an existential threat,
rather than as a fundamental right.
They should be ashamed. The Left should be ashamed of glorifying “resistance”
while ignoring Assad’s prisons, Sisi’s jails, and Tehran’s gallows. Political
Islam should be ashamed of promoting jihad against Jews while perpetrating mass
atrocities against its own peoples. And Israel, despite all the noise, continues
to remind everyone that democracy is not an empty slogan but a daily
practice—even when those exercising it are Arabs living within the “Zionist
state.”
As for the Muslim Brotherhood cancer, it continues to spread, migrate, and
attempt to reproduce the same catastrophe wherever it takes root. The question
that will always haunt its adherents is this: After destroying the West just as
you destroyed your own countries, into which sea will you throw yourselves?
Ultimately, freedom and justice cannot be selective slogans. They cannot be
demanded for one group while being denied to others. Anyone who raises the
banner of human rights must defend those rights everywhere and hold every
authority or organization that violates them accountable, regardless of its
identity, ideology, or slogans.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website:
https://eliasbejjaninews.com
Re-electing Benjamin Netanyahu Is a
Lebanese, Regional, and International Strategic Interest: He Is Fighting
Political Islam in Both Its Forms on Behalf of a Complacent West and Its
Threatened Civilization
Elias Bejjani/October 26/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/158590/
I see that the continuation of resolute leadership of the stature
of Benjamin Netanyahu, the international leader who fights terrorist political
Islam in both its Shiite and Sunni forms, and who fights on behalf of a
complacent West infiltrated by extremism, is the option most compatible with the
goal of the Lebanese to build a free state with full sovereignty, and a
strategic interest for Lebanon, the region, and the free world.
As a Lebanese citizen who believes in state sovereignty, independence of
national decision-making, and the distinct Lebanese identity, I state it clearly
and without equivocation: I support the re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu on
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, because I see in him an exceptional international
leader, and direct support for the cause of a free, independent Lebanon,
liberated from the occupation of Iran and its terrorist arm, Hezbollah.
The re-election of Netanyahu and enabling him to form the next Israeli
government directly intersects with Lebanon’s supreme interests at this critical
and existential juncture.
Netanyahu is not just an ordinary candidate. He is the longest-serving Prime
Minister in the history of Israel, the statesman who led Israel through multiple
wars, managed complex international relations, and enjoys clear and explicit
support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who described him as a strong,
courageous leader and partner in confronting the Islamic Republic. This support
reflects a convergence of vision on the priority of containing the Iranian
threat and preventing the regime from acquiring nuclear capabilities that
threaten world peace.
Netanyahu has proven over the past years that he is the most determined Israeli
leader to confront the Iranian project in the region. This project, embodied in
supporting, arming, and transforming southern Lebanon into an advanced military
platform for Hezbollah, has for decades been the main obstacle to Lebanon
regaining its full sovereignty. Treating Hezbollah as an illegitimate occupation
force linked to Tehran, and seeking to dismantle its military infrastructure, is
consistent with international resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 1701,
and with the aspirations of Lebanese who want one state that monopolizes weapons
and decision-making.
But my support for Netanyahu goes beyond the narrow Lebanese dimension. I
support him because I see in him an international leader who fights political
Islam in both its criminal forms, Shiite and Sunni, without selective
discrimination and without hypocrisy.
He does not fight the Iranian Shiite axis alone, but adopts a comprehensive
local, regional, and international vision that sees political extremism,
represented by destructive terrorist and jihadi political Islam, whether Sunni
or Shiite, as a common source threatening stability in all countries of the
world, especially in the Middle East. The military campaign against Hamas and
Islamic Jihad after the events of October 7th, and the insistence on disarming
these organizations and preventing their rebuilding, clearly reflects this
approach. His pursuit of weakening the Iranian regime itself stems from a firm
conviction that the survival of the Mullahs’ regime means continued feeding of
armed networks in Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen.
And here lies a fundamental point: Netanyahu is fighting on behalf of a
complacent West. While Islamic extremism has spread within Western societies
themselves, and their capitals suffer from a culture of violence, militias, and
ideological extremism, Netanyahu stands almost alone waging the civilizational
battle against this danger. He understands that the danger is one, whether it
comes with a Shiite turban from Tehran or a Sunni jihadi flag from Gaza.
In this context, the existential threats of Iranian nuclear capabilities emerge
as a central danger that cannot be ignored. The Iranian regime’s pursuit of
nuclear weapons does not threaten Israel alone, but poses an existential threat
to Lebanon in particular. If Tehran acquires a nuclear weapon, it will gain a
deterrent umbrella enabling it to escalate its support for its militias in
Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq without fear of real deterrent responses, and will
transform Hezbollah into an even bolder tool for imposing a foreign agenda on
the Lebanese. Preventing the Mullahs from acquiring nuclear capabilities is not
just an Israeli interest, but a common Lebanese, regional, and international
interest.
On the diplomatic level, Netanyahu played a pivotal role in achieving the
Abraham Accords, which opened new horizons for cooperation between Israel and
several Arab countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. These
agreements were not merely formal normalization, but represented the beginning
of a practical alliance between states that share a rejection of Iranian
expansion and Sunni and Shiite jihadi Islamic ideological extremism. The
existence of an Israeli leadership committed to this path enhances the chances
of expanding regional stability, which is in Lebanon’s interest in the medium
and long term.
Politically, despite the media noise and close polls showing a race of between
48 and 55 seats for his camp, Netanyahu’s chances remain the highest in reality.
His electoral base in Likud and the religious and right-wing parties remains the
most cohesive and disciplined, and has repeatedly proven to surprise the polls
with high turnout on election day. Israeli history shows that right-wing voters
are often undercounted in polls. Moreover, his unique experience in building
coalitions and coalition negotiations gives him a clear advantage over a divided
opposition camp suffering from internal divisions over reliance on Arab parties.
In conclusion, this is not about blind support for any external party, but about
a realistic assessment of the balance of power and interests. Lebanon needs a
regional environment in which the ability of foreign-backed militias to impose
their agendas is reduced. Any retreat in Israeli resolve toward Hezbollah and
the Iranian regime would give both parties an opportunity to regroup and restore
their capabilities, and for Lebanon this means prolonging the current situation:
a weak state, illegitimate weapons, borders open to tension, and a collapsed
economy.
Therefore, I see the continuation of resolute leadership of the stature of
Benjamin Netanyahu – the international leader who fights terrorist political
Islam in both its Shiite and Sunni forms, and who fights on behalf of a
complacent West infiltrated by extremism – as the option most compatible with
the goal of the Lebanese to build a free state with full sovereignty, and a
strategic interest for Lebanon, the region, and the free world.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email:
Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website:
https://eliasbejjaninews.com
After warning.. huge Israeli explosion in the vicinity
of Deir Mimas
Al-Markaziya / October 28, 2026
A large explosion shook the vicinity of the town of Deir Mimas in Marjeyoun
district in southern Lebanon, after Israeli forces had informed residents of the
need to open windows in preparation for carrying it out. In addition, Israeli
army aircraft raided Wadi al-Hujeir, and then the town of Baraachit with a
missile that did not explode, and the enemy repeated the attack, raiding
Baraachit for the second time this evening. Israeli aircraft flew at low
altitude, carrying out mock raids, and dropping thermal balloons in the skies of
the south. Two booby-trapped drones exploded this evening over the town of Al-Mansouri,
after flying at low altitude over the towns of Al-Mansouri, Al-Qlaila and Bayout
Al-Siyad. Israeli artillery targeted the Marjeyoun plain, and in the afternoon
it was reported that artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of the towns of
Kounine and Baraachit in Bint Jbeil district. A drone dropped a sound bomb on
the town of Baraachit, while the area between the towns of Mayfadoun and Zotar
al-Sharqiya was subjected to intermittent artillery shelling. Israeli army
artillery, this morning, Wednesday, targeted the towns of Al-Mansouri, Majdal
Zoun and the neighboring valleys and the outskirts of the town of Baraachit, and
Wadi al-Salouqi, while a number of shells fell on the eastern neighborhood of
the town of Haddatha. Also, warplanes were observed flying in the skies of the
south, while an Israeli drone flew at low altitude in the skies of the southern
suburb of Beirut. At dawn, the Israeli army dropped flares over the town of
Zotar al-Sharqiya.
End of counting in Israeli elections... slight lead for Netanyahu
Aoun: No solution except through dialogue... Salam: No retreat from extending
state authority
Lebanese Forces ministers to boycott cabinet session tomorrow and a statement by
Qassem tonight
Al-Markaziya / October 28, 2026
Between Benjamin Netanyahu's lead and the inability to decide, Lebanon awaits
the outcome of the Israeli election and its repercussions on outstanding files,
from restricting weapons and extending state authority, to negotiations with
Israel and the post-UNIFIL phase in the south.
Domestically, calls for dialogue and negotiation intersect with escalating
political tensions, amid official insistence on completing the state-building
process, and renewed conflict over the Dahr al-Baidar explosives file, while the
Lebanese Forces party sticks to its position rejecting limiting the cabinet
agenda to the waste file, away from discussing referring the explosives case to
the Judicial Council.
Netanyahu's lead but: As the results of the Israeli elections gradually appear,
where Benjamin Netanyahu's camp obtained 53 seats and Gadi Eisenkot's alliance
47 seats and the Arab parties 19 seats after the vote count ended in the Israeli
elections, without meaning that either of them will be able to form a
government, where the Arab deputies will play the role of kingmaker, the
regional and local arenas remain in a state of anticipation, where there is
nothing new in any of the Lebanese files, from restricting weapons to the Dahr
al-Baidar file to negotiations with Israel to the alternative to UNIFIL in the
south.
Aoun and dialogue: Today, these issues were present in official activity.
President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun stressed that "there is no place
for despair, and Lebanon's problems cannot be solved except by adopting the
language of deliberation and dialogue, away from confrontation." He added during
his meeting with the Lebanese-Cypriot Businessmen Council: "There is no economy
without stability, and the Lebanese, with his energies, is capable of reviving
his country anew."
Negotiation and security: Also, the President affirmed during his meeting with
five French deputies from the Study Group of Eastern Christians, that "Lebanon
is committed to keeping UNIFIL forces in the south, or replacing them with
European forces, which would be the nucleus of forces from friendly countries
wishing to help Lebanon and contribute to achieving security and stability in
the south." And he affirmed that "there are no safe and sustainable solutions
through war, but through diplomatic negotiation, because wars cannot achieve any
practical result, but rather destroy and displace and leave dead and wounded,
and do not end conflicts." He said "Only diplomatic negotiation can achieve
security for countries and peoples." President Aoun affirmed that "the state is
vigilant for the safety of the people of the southern border villages who are
steadfast in their homes and properties, and is working with humanitarian
organizations and UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army to secure all the components of
steadfastness, health, educational and food, until the Israeli occupation ends."
Raji for restricting weapons: Foreign and Expatriates Minister Youssef Raji
received the French parliamentary delegation. During the meeting, Raji briefed
the French parliamentary delegation on the diplomatic efforts exerted to achieve
Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. He stressed the importance of the
bold decisions taken by the government to restrict weapons to the state and
extend its authority over all its territory, affirming that these decisions do
not come to please any party, but express a national choice to build the state
and consecrate its exclusive right to own weapons and monopolize the decision of
war and peace. The meeting dealt with the conditions of Christian villages in
the south and the challenges facing their people, and Raji called for supporting
these villages to enable their people to remain steadfast and stay in their
land, and affirmed that their continued presence there is an essential pillar
for preserving the pluralism and diversity that characterize Lebanon.
In Maarab: The French delegation also visited Maarab and met with Lebanese
Forces party leader Samir Geagea. The meeting dealt with political and economic
developments in Lebanon, in light of the geopolitical transformations witnessed
in the region and their repercussions on Lebanese stability and the country's
future. The discussion also touched on the conditions of Christians in Lebanon
and the challenges facing their presence and national role, and the importance
of preserving pluralism and diversity which constitute an essential pillar of
Lebanese identity. The meeting was an occasion to present the Lebanese Forces
party's vision for Lebanon's future, and ways to enhance state sovereignty and
its institutions, and consolidate political and economic stability, to ensure a
safe and stable future for all Lebanese.
Nassar in Baabda: Meanwhile, while investigations into the Dahr al-Baidar
explosives shipment continue, President Aoun discussed with Justice Minister
Adel Nassar the judicial reality in the country, and the work of judicial
institutions and courts.
No participation: In this context, Maarab sources told Al-Markaziya that the
four ministers of the Lebanese Forces party will not participate in the cabinet
session tomorrow because they consider that the waste issue, for all its
importance, was suddenly placed and the agenda limited to it, constitutes an
escape from holding a session to discuss referring the file of explosives
belonging to Hezbollah to the Judicial Council.
No retreat: For his part, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed during the opening
of the second edition of the National Industry Exhibition 2026, "that there is
no sustainable stability without sustainable security. The basis for that was
and remains the state extending its authority over all its territory exclusively
by its own forces. Which we all agreed upon when we renewed our national
contract in the Taif Agreement. And we remain committed to that, and we will not
retreat from this goal because it is the necessary condition for the state to
restore its role, rather for its existence. And this no matter how difficult the
challenges. And we will not of course surrender in front of the obstacles facing
us whatever their source. Party statement: In contrast, the media relations in
Hezbollah announced, "that a statement will be issued by the Secretary-General
of the party Sheikh Naim Qassem, about political developments in Lebanon and the
region, at six o'clock this evening.
Gemayel and communal lands: In positions, Kataeb party leader MP Sami Gemayel
affirmed, in a meeting titled "Municipal commons: protecting rights and
exploring investment opportunities," that the issue of commons is vital and
essential, and must be studied in depth, and that the commons, especially in
Mount Lebanon, are the property of all the people of the villages, and part of
the private property of citizens, and part of our history and identity and our
personality in the country, and we consider that they cannot be touched, and it
is a vital point for Lebanon's future. Gemayel said "When there was an attempt
to change the identity or ownership or face of the lands that are the outlet, we
filed a lawsuit through MP Elias Hankash and the municipality of Roumieh to the
State Shura Council to stop the process of changing the identity and ownership
of the commons, and based on the lawsuit, there was a suspension of the
execution of the decision to change the ownership of the commons to become the
property of the state, and we stopped the decision, and we are awaiting the
final decision after the precautionary suspension of execution." He added "We
hope to annul the ministerial decision definitively to reassure, and we affirm
that the commons are not vacant land, but the property of our people and our
villages, and it is important to stop the process of seizing them, and we will
think together how to benefit from them and invest them."
Lebanon-Israel negotiations... deadlock awaiting new power
balances
Najwa Abi Haidar / Al-Markaziya / October 28, 2026
Al-Markaziya - The eighth military round in the context of Lebanese-Israeli
negotiations, which was held in Tampa - Florida, did not create any breach in
the deadlock dominating this path, and did not succeed in moving the file which
was obstructed due to the Israeli position refusing to commit to terms of
framework agreement and present concessions in disputed issues. This round gains
its importance in light of initial inconclusive results of Israeli elections,
with vote counting continuing and neither camp able to settle parliamentary
majority. The military round was held at Lebanon's insistence after Israel
refused to hold the eighth round of political negotiations, with its desire,
with American support, to keep the framework agreement alive, despite its
faltering in recent rounds. However this insistence did not change the Israeli
position, which still refuses withdrawal and stopping military operations before
disarming Hezbollah from all Lebanese territory, while the American side went
along with the Israeli position, especially on the eve of elections, as it did
not exercise any pressure on Tel Aviv, and did not support Lebanese positions,
but was content to listen to proposals, without playing the role of neutral
sponsor between the two parties. And contrary to what has been customary after
previous rounds, no official statement was issued about the meeting, nor was a
date set for the next round, as an indicator that talks did not achieve tangible
progress, and that meeting was limited to affirming continuation of negotiation
path. Western diplomatic circles tell Al-Markaziya they understand American
behavior. The administration of President Donald Trump did not wish to pressure
Benjamin Netanyahu during the electoral entitlement, to avoid confusing him or
pushing him to present concessions, especially in file of Israeli withdrawal and
Lebanese army deployment. However they point to necessity of waiting about two
weeks for picture of Israeli and American entitlements and new power balances to
become clear. And they add: But fear lies in that Israel links resumption of
negotiations to formation of its new government, in light of possibilities of
political alliances or reaching formula for national unity government, leaving
path of talks hostage to Israeli internal developments. In contrast, American
circles affirm to Al-Markaziya that Washington remains committed to supporting
Lebanon's sovereignty and strengthening Lebanese army capabilities and
continuation of negotiations, with focus on disarming Hezbollah in parallel with
discussing Israeli withdrawal from south. And circles determine most prominent
points of disagreement by monitoring mechanism and Israeli withdrawal, affirming
that stumbling of meetings does not mean Washington abandoning negotiation path.
Awaiting clarification of political scene, Western diplomatic circles raise
possibility of reconsidering negotiation mechanisms after formation of new
Israeli government, which may open door to different approach to file, without
guarantees so far of achieving actual breakthrough.
Where did the party see Lebanese submission to Washington..
in restricting weapons or Dahr al-Baidar?
Lara Yazbek / Al-Markaziya / October 28, 2026
Al-Markaziya - Member of Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Hussein Hajj Hassan
considered that "what the American embassy is doing is tutelage and occupation
of political decision," and said "When we talk about tutelage, tutelage came
with American ambassador who wants to amend laws himself, i.e. to replace head
of parliament and deputies, and gather deputies and ask them to cancel law
boycotting Israel. Is this tutelage or what? This is more than tutelage, this is
occupation of political decision." He added "When American officials, whether
foreign minister or American ambassador, or through statements and statements of
members of American Senate, interfere in matter of explosives truck in Dahr al-Baidar,
or in matter of complaint filed against Lebanese ambassador in Washington, and
determine for judiciary what is acceptable and what is not acceptable, what
would this be? This is interference in judiciary. And to our knowledge judiciary
in Lebanon is independent from political authority, and will become after a
little subordinate to American embassy and subordinate to American State
Department achieving Israeli interests." And continued "There are those who say
Hezbollah raised ceiling and issued warnings, and truth is that who raised
ceiling and became aggressive and assaulted is Israeli and with him American,
and authority responds. It is not Hezbollah who tenses matters in Lebanon, but
rather who tenses is American and Israeli and authority contributes to tension
through its response." Who assaulted is Israeli after Hezbollah decided to
support Gaza once and Iran a second time, say sovereign political sources to Al-Markaziya,
to put dots on letters of Hajj Hassan. And ask about manifestations of Lebanese
state submission to American instructions, where did party see it exactly? Was
file of Dahr al-Baidar explosives referred to Judicial Council for example, or
did state retreat submitting to will of Hezbollah? Did state for example begin
process of disarming illegal weapons, or still also hesitant fearing party
shaking civil peace? In law criminalizing contact with Israel, was it canceled,
and American ambassador imposed his will on Lebanese parliament?! So what
submission or response is party talking about?! The sad truth is most advice of
American side, are demands of majority of Lebanese, however they were not
implemented, because state puts accommodating Hezbollah at top of its priorities
and prefers it over rest of Lebanese. As for actual passwords that ruined
Lebanon and still do, and keep it languishing in hell, they come from Iran and
not from anywhere else, and come to Hezbollah which implements them literally,
so it opens wars and fronts and launches rockets and betrays state fearful of it
or for it, no difference.
And above all that, party complains about rulers' submission to American,
betting that its aggression this, leads to embarrassing state more so it
retreats from decisions of 5 and 7 August and 2 March ministerial and
legitimizes its weapon anew.. And fear is big that its bet is in place, sources
conclude.
Lebanon’s Aoun Says Israeli Attacks Obstruct Agreement,
US Efforts Yield No Results
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of obstructing the implementation
of a US-brokered agreement through continued attacks on southern Lebanon, saying
Beirut’s contacts with Washington to halt the strikes have so far yielded no
results. The president also reiterated Lebanon’s desire to extend the mandate of
the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) beyond this year,
expressing openness to a European replacement force and warning that an
international security vacuum in the south could threaten regional stability.
During a meeting with Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister
for Defense Helen McEntee, Aoun accused Israel of failing to honor the agreement
reached during negotiations in Washington. He said Israeli forces continued to
bombard southern villages and towns, destroy property and bulldoze homes. Aoun
stressed that Israel’s actions were preventing the Lebanese Army from extending
state authority to the international border, ending the presence of armed groups
and restoring stability. He called on friendly countries, including Ireland, to
press Israel to end its attacks, withdraw from South Lebanon and release
Lebanese prisoners. Such steps, he noted, would allow the Lebanese state to
rebuild devastated communities and enable displaced residents to return home.
Warning Against Security Vacuum in South Lebanon
Turning to UNIFIL’s mandate, which expires at the end of the year, the president
reaffirmed Lebanon’s wish for the peacekeeping force to continue its operations
throughout 2027. He emphasized its role in monitoring developments in South
Lebanon and supporting the Lebanese Army as it deploys to the international
border following an Israeli withdrawal. UNIFIL also provides humanitarian,
social and healthcare assistance to residents of southern villages, he
underlined. If an extension proves impossible, Beirut would welcome the
participation of a European force under arrangements agreed with the European
Union or individual European countries, in cooperation with the United Nations.
The Lebanese head of state warned that UNIFIL’s departure without a replacement
could leave a security vacuum in the south, with potentially damaging
consequences for regional stability. He added that logistical and technical
assistance from an alternative force could facilitate the army’s mission and
improve living conditions for southern communities.On domestic affairs, Aoun
affirmed that the government was pursuing economic and financial reforms in
cooperation with parliament despite the difficult circumstances facing Lebanon.
He welcomed potential Irish assistance in the humanitarian, social, military and
educational sectors. The president also thanked Ireland for its contribution to
international peacekeeping operations in South Lebanon since 1978 and paid
tribute to Irish soldiers killed while serving there.
McEntee welcomed the opportunity to visit Lebanon, assess conditions firsthand
and meet Irish troops deployed in the south. She reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment
to participating in peacekeeping operations, supporting the Lebanese Army and
civil society, and working with public institutions to deliver needed
assistance. The Irish minister stressed that her country would continue
supporting Lebanon despite the difficult circumstances facing the region.
Because of Dahr al-Baidar shipment... "Lebanese Forces"
ministers escalate and boycott cabinet session
Janoubia/October 28, 2026
Ministers representing the "Lebanese Forces" announced boycotting the cabinet
session scheduled for Thursday, dedicated to discussing the waste file, in
protest against not including an item to refer the Dahr al-Baidar explosives
case to the Judicial Council in the agenda. The ministers affirmed, in a
statement, the importance of addressing the waste file, but expressed surprise
at dedicating a full session to it, versus postponing a decision on a case they
described as extremely dangerous and urgent, given its potential repercussions
on security, stability and civil peace. The ministers pointed out that the
Minister of Justice took the first required step by submitting a proposal to
refer the case to the Judicial Council, calling on the President of the Republic
and the Prime Minister to include the draft decree on the agenda of the nearest
cabinet session, and put it to a vote without delay. They stressed that their
boycott comes as a rejection of ignoring this priority, calling on the
government to bear its responsibilities in the security file, in addition to
addressing the electricity crisis that threatens further reduction of power
supply hours if urgent measures are not taken.
Escalation in the South: Artillery targeting of western and
central sectors and series of field explosions
Janoubia/October 28, 2026
Tension is escalating noticeably on the southern Lebanon front in parallel with
the state of political, geopolitical anticipation raging over the path of
results of Israeli legislative elections and fate of forming government in Tel
Aviv. These successive field developments come amid blockage of horizon of the
last round of Lebanese-Israeli military negotiations held under American
sponsorship in the city of Tampa last week without achieving any tangible
results, versus intelligence reports affirming raising readiness of parties and
renewed threats to launch wide military operations. The southern towns and areas
witnessed intensive and varied shelling and explosions between air raids and
artillery shelling and field explosions, and this morning Israeli army artillery
targeted the towns of Al-Mansouri, Majdal Zoun, and neighboring valleys, in
addition to outskirts of town of Baraachit. A number of artillery shells fell
directly on the eastern neighborhood of town of Haddatha, as Israeli army at
dawn dropped flares in skies of town of Zotar al-Sharqiya. And at night Israeli
artillery shelling targeted both towns of Haddatha, Al-Mansouri, surroundings of
Srobbin, Wadi Zebqin, and outskirts of Zotar al-Sharqiya and Mayfadoun, in
addition to targeting Wadi al-Hujeir. Town of Bani Hayyan witnessed a violent
explosion in evening hours followed by another explosion, in parallel with
recording a huge explosion in town of Tallousa. Escalation included an explosion
in town of Khiam and combing with machine guns toward town of Beit Yahoun. An
Israeli drone launched an air raid targeting surroundings of the church in Al-Jarmaq
area in Jezzine district.
Escalation in south and messages to Beirut.. anticipated
raids and absence of "Hezbollah" ministers from government
Janoubia/October 28, 2026
Indicators are increasing of possibility of field escalation on Lebanese front,
amid warnings of a new wave of Israeli attacks in coming hours, in parallel with
recording explosions in a number of southern towns, and diplomatic warnings of
repercussions of Hezbollah entering war. The Regional Council of Upper Galilee
reported that a new wave of attacks on Lebanese front is expected during coming
hours, pointing to possibility of hearing strong explosions in Western and Upper
Galilee reaching north of Golan. In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces informed
residents of town of Deir Mimas, according to what National News Agency
reported, of necessity to open windows in preparation for carrying out huge
explosion in surroundings of town. An explosion was also recorded in
surroundings of town of Kounine, while media outlets circulated scenes from town
of Al-Qlaila. Politically, Al-Jadeed channel quoted diplomatic sources that
Lebanon received serious warnings that Hezbollah's entry into war this time will
be met with very violent Israeli response. Sources added that American
administration shows desire to engage more in Lebanese file, without field or
military intervention, but pointed out that achieving any progress remains
linked to steps of government and Lebanese political authority. In governmental
context, Al-Jadeed reported, quoting Lebanese Forces sources, that ministers of
Hezbollah will be absent from government session scheduled tomorrow, and that
their participation in upcoming sessions is conditional on raising file of
explosives shipment and referring it to Judicial Council.
Dahr al-Baidar explosives file before new judicial
station... Who will be charged and what did investigation reveal?
Janoubia/October 28, 2026
The Dahr al-Baidar explosives file approaches a new judicial station, with
preliminary investigations nearing end in preparation for charging suspected of
involvement, while Justice Minister Adel Nassar clings to referring case to
Judicial Council, considering its danger exceeds transporting and storing
explosives to what he describes as threatening national security and civil
peace. According to what Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported, Government
Commissioner at Military Court, Judge Claude Ghanem, is expected to receive,
during coming hours, records of preliminary investigations conducted by Army
Intelligence Directorate and Information Branch of Internal Security Forces, to
study them and determine responsibilities and legal descriptions in preparation
for charging. Regarding detainees, information spoke about detention of a new
person alongside A.K. and H.A., who were inside the truck transporting
explosives. However a judicial source confirmed to newspaper that number of
detainees remains limited to two persons. Investigation revealed, according to
same source, identities of five other persons suspected of connection to case,
among them one called "Sajed," whom source described as a security personality
belonging to the party, and suspected of delivering explosives in Baalbek. Also
name of another person called "Dhu al-Fiqar" emerged, and he has, according to
source, also a security status, and was supposed to receive materials in
southern suburb of Beirut, in addition to wife of H.A. and owner of truck
carrying explosives. Source expected that charge will be issued, Thursday,
against persons whose responsibilities were determined in file, pointing out
that preliminary investigations managed to reveal real names of number of
suspects, and that summons and search and investigation warrants were issued
against some of them and are under... And until government takes its decision
regarding referring file to Judicial Council, judicial path before Military
Court continues. Judicial source explained that Judge Ghanem will work on
studying records and matching confessions and evidence with legal texts
applicable to acts attributed to suspects, with aim of determining criminal
descriptions on which he will rely in charging detainees and fugitives. In
contrast, Justice Minister Adel Nassar clung to his demand to refer case to
Judicial Council, affirming that his position does not constitute questioning
those in charge of investigation, foremost Government Commissioner at Military
Court Judge Claude Ghanem. Nassar told Asharq Al-Awsat that case "is not only
about transporting explosives," but includes, according to his estimate, wider
dimension threatening national security and civil peace, which he bases his
referral demand on. He revealed that he prepared a legal study handed to
President of Republic Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam during last
cabinet session, concluded in it that receiving explosives of this danger
constitutes, according to his legal vision, breach of national security, and
that storing and transporting them endangers safety of Lebanese. Nassar
considered that acknowledgment of concerned party of possessing these materials
and using them in what he described as "new support front" entails
responsibility connected to risks that may result from storing or transporting
them, and possibility of exposing civilians to danger. He also saw that
existence of a security and military system importing such materials for use
outside framework of state constitutes threat to internal security, linking
danger of file to nature of seized materials and their use away from state
authority. He concluded by affirming that continuation in institutional and
judicial path constitutes, according to his expression, "victory of pen of
legitimacy over illegitimate weapon." File goes back to seizure of truck loaded
with large quantities of explosives, which opened security and judicial
investigation to determine source of materials and parties linked to
transporting them and destination it was supposed to reach, while political and
legal debate continues regarding referring case to Judicial Council.
Public announcement from U.S. Embassy in Lebanon: Visa
services continue and activation of direct communication plan with nationals
Janoubia/October 28, 2026
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut affirmed, today Wednesday, that it still continues
its work as usual, including providing limited routine services for American
citizens and visa services. In a public announcement regarding workflow in
embassy, it called American citizens traveling to Middle East region or residing
in it to register in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program "STEP" of U.S. Department
of State. Embassy explained that registration in program allows obtaining latest
security updates, as well as facilitates American embassy in country where
registered citizen exists to communicate with him in emergencies. It called
citizens to stay in contact with it through its websites in English and Arabic,
in addition to its accounts on Facebook and Instagram and X and YouTube and its
channel on WhatsApp.
Qabalan: Protecting Coexistence and National Unity Is a
Priority
Al-Markaziya/October 28, 2026
The Jaafari Grand Mufti, Sheikh Qabalan, issued a statement addressed to
Lebanese society and the political leadership, declaring: "There is no interest
for Lebanon greater than protecting the solid foundation of coexistence and the
established constitutional framework—along with all that is required to ensure
sovereign and national security. What is unfolding in the region is more
significant than a regional earthquake, and its repercussions extend well beyond
the region itself." He noted that "while the consequences are becoming clearly
apparent, they will not fully manifest overnight. This necessitates that the
political authorities, political factions, and the Lebanese people confront this
radical transformation by taking into account the potential collapse of
historical pillars—for we are facing a massive regional shift with profound
security implications." He argued that "the moment has arrived to repurpose
regional power and interests through substantial, solid settlements among
Riyadh, Tehran, Ankara, and Islamabad—a move that would facilitate active
resolutions across the entire Middle East." He noted that the meeting in Tehran
between these four powers presents a significant regional bloc, effectively
framing Washington as a source of crisis rather than a guarantor of stability
for the region. He stated that this quartet should establish a framework for
cooperation and settlements that addresses the very structure of the Middle
East, helping to break free from the web of alliances orchestrated by global
powers to fragment the region and plunder its wealth. Regardless of the specific
agenda of the Tehran meeting, its greatest significance lies in its potential to
serve as a foundation for broader understandings—reshaping the regional balance
of power. This, in turn, undermines the premise upon which historical American
influence in the region was built, while simultaneously isolating Tel Aviv and
cutting off its regional "oxygen." He emphasized that forming a solid core among
these four powers could contribute to resolving the region's various challenges
and restore the Middle East to its rightful place at the heart of regional and
international power. He further warned against pinning hopes on political shifts
in Tel Aviv, Washington, or Brussels, noting that the agendas being forged
within these entities are driven by interests that transcend the political
figures currently in power. He concluded by saying: "A house divided against
itself loses its very existence and its capacity to endure; history has taught
us that a state divided against itself becomes a cheap commodity for the rest of
the world."
Report: Hezbollah hasn't given state guarantees on staying
out of war
Naharnet/October 28/2026
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have not received any
“official guarantees” from Hezbollah regarding not engaging in a new war in
support of Iran, an official source said. Speaker Nabih Berri also has not
received “any pledge of this kind," the source told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper
in remarks published Wednesday. MP Hassan Fadlallah had announced Monday that
Iran has not asked Hezbollah to intervene militarily if a new war is waged on
the Islamic republic. “The Islamic Republic of Iran did not ask us in the past,
nor today, to support it in confronting the American-Israeli aggression,”
Fadlallah said. Asharq al-Awsat newspaper had reported over the weekend that
Hezbollah had informed Berri that it would not intervene in support of Iran if
war broke out, which Berri “conveyed to President Joseph Aoun.”
And while al-Liwaa newspaper has quoted a “senior Hezbollah official” as saying
that the group has not and will not give guarantees to anyone in this regard,
despite being keen on “preventing any escalation,” sources close to Hezbollah
said Tuesday that Tehran has “informed Hezbollah that it does not want its
participation in any upcoming war that may be waged by the U.S. and Israel.”The
sources told Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel that Iran "does not need anyone to
support it in any potential war because it possesses the necessary
capabilities," emphasizing that "the Iranians have not asked the party to
participate in any upcoming war."However, they noted that "Hezbollah will not
stand idly by if Israel crosses the current lines" in Lebanon. Furthermore, the
sources quoted Hezbollah as stating that its "participation in the Second
Support War (in March in response to the assassination of Iranian supreme leader
Ali Khamenei) yielded fundamental results, most notably the Islamabad Agreement,
which led to de-escalation and restricted the rules of engagement to the South,
which is an achievement in itself."The sources concluded by stressing that "the
party is in a position of reacting to Israeli attacks."
Artillery shells south Lebanon as Israelis await poll
results
Naharnet/October 28/2026
Israeli artillery shelled Wednesday Majdalzoun, al-Mansouri, Kounine, Baraashit
and Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, after forces carried out detonations overnight in the
southern border towns of Khiam, Tallousa and Bani Hayyan. Anxious Israelis were
meanwhile watching election results take shape after the highest turnout in over
a quarter-century.
Erdogan's son to make key visit to Lebanon next month
Naharnet/October 28/2026
Bilal Erdoğan, the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will visit
Lebanon in mid-November, al-Akhbar newspaper quoted sources as saying. While the
visit’s agenda will be primarily humanitarian and social, the trip carries
“strategic motives that extend far beyond charitable work,” the daily said. “It
comes amid an accelerating push by Turkey to broaden Ankara's influence in
Lebanon at a critical regional juncture when geopolitical maps are being
redrawn,” the newspaper added. The Turkish leader’s son will meet with President
Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in addition to
key religious authorities, but Tripoli will take center stage during the visit,
al-Akhbar said. The sources said Erdoğan plans to address a public gathering to
underscore Tripoli’s significance to Turkey. Meanwhile, his advance team has
started organizing a public walk-through of the city’s historic old quarters.
This will coincide with the announcement of several restoration initiatives for
Ottoman-era landmarks, as well as an expanded private university scholarship
package that goes well beyond Ankara's usual annual offerings in Lebanon. The
itinerary also features sit-downs with local religious dignitaries and officials
from the Port of Tripoli, the Special Economic Zone, and the Rashid Karami
International Fair. These meetings aim to explore cooperative ventures and
establish joint initiatives between these institutions and their Turkish
counterparts. Reflecting this objective, Erdoğan's delegation will feature
prominent Turkish business leaders and representatives from the service sector.
In recent years, Turkey has steadily widened its relief and development
footprint in Lebanon through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA),
using cultural, social, and humanitarian aid to incrementally anchor its
presence across multiple regions. From Ankara’s standpoint, Tripoli offers the
most fertile ground for this expanding foothold -- owing not just to its
deep-rooted historical and social bonds with Turkey, but also to its influential
weight within Lebanon's Sunni political landscape.
LF ministers to boycott Thursday's cabinet session
Naharnet/October 28/2026
The four ministers representing the Lebanese Forces will not attend the cabinet
session scheduled for Thursday, MTV reported. “This decision comes after sensing
intentional procrastination in referring the Dahr al-Baidar explosives case to
the Judicial Council, as well as the lack of responsiveness from public
administrations in the Lebanese state to the repeated requests of the Minister
of Energy regarding the settlement of their dues owed to Électricité du Liban (EDL),”
the TV network said. Sources told MTV that the current stance of the LF
ministers stems from “a clear crisis of priorities: they consider that the
security of Lebanese citizens in the explosives case and their social security
regarding the electricity file are two pivotal issues in which continuous
procrastination and stalling can no longer be accepted.”
Jumblat defends views as Hezbollah MP slams blatant US
'interference'
Naharnet/October 28/2026
Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat told L'Orient-Le Jour
that neither the Lebanese Parliament nor the Cabinet was consulted before the
signing of a tripartite framework deal with Israel. "I have the right to express
my opinion," he said, in an interview on Tuesday.
His remarks come after a U.S. State Department spokesman accused Jumblat of
having "little regard for principle, his own constituency, or the future of his
country," after the Druze leader criticized direct negotiations with Israel and
the U.S.' role. In an interview broadcast on Sunday, Jumblat said Lebanon should
have endorsed the American-Iranian Islamabad track instead of engaging in direct
negotiations with Israel, which he believes will be fruitless and "lead to
nowhere." He said Lebanon's government has mistakenly believed that the
Americans could pressure the Israelis to withdraw from southern Lebanon. The
Druze leader added that the U.S. can help Lebanon by sending "better diplomats"
and changing its policy. The State Department spokesman snapped back, saying
that "Hezbollah and their friends thought the so-called Islamabad track could
serve as a license for Hezbollah to retain its arsenal while Israel withdraws
again." "That was never a realistic option," he added. In his Sunday interview,
Jumblat called for dialogue with Hezbollah and Iran, stressing that it is not
possible to eliminate the Shiites "or tell them to go away".He also warned
against civil war, saying that some Lebanese parties and foreign diplomats
actually want it. "Relying on Iran to disarm Hezbollah is a mechanism for
preserving Tehran's veto over Lebanese sovereignty," the American spokesman
said. "As (U.S.) Ambassador (to Lebanon Michel) Issa said, the United States is
prepared to engage Hezbollah only through the Lebanese state, and only on the
topic of disarmament," he added. Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar condemned the "brazen
insolence" of the U.S. administration and its "overt interference" in Lebanese
affairs, while defending Jumblat's right to express his opinion. He said the
"blatant American interference has reached dangerous and unprecedented levels
that can no longer be ignored" and accused the U.S. of violating Lebanon's
sovereignty. "The Lebanese people know their interests best and know how to
manage their affairs and address their problems," Ammar concluded.
Hezbollah is rearming against Lebanon
Makram Rabah/Al Arabiya English/October 28/2026
All the money in the world will not restore Hezbollah to its former power. It
can, however, help the party threaten Lebanon with another catastrophe. The
noise surrounding its rearmament should be understood as a warning to the
Lebanese: Hezbollah is prepared to risk open civil war to keep what remains of
its weapons. Reports claim that Iranian funding is helping Hezbollah prepare for
renewed hostilities, including acquiring explosives and producing drones. They
describe a damaged command structure, an account Hezbollah disputes. Treating
these claims as proof of an imminent military resurrection mistakes the ability
to buy weapons for the capacity to wage an effective war. For Tehran,
maintaining an armed Hezbollah preserves an instrument of control over Lebanon.
The party’s military recovery does not have to be complete for it to serve
Iranian interests. Even a battered organization can obstruct the Lebanese state,
undermine decisions to disarm it and threaten to reopen a front whenever Iran
needs pressure elsewhere. This is the continuation of an Iranian project whose
costs are paid by Lebanese families. Hezbollah’s losses cannot be repaired by a
bank transfer. Money can replace equipment and keep fighters on a payroll. It
cannot resurrect experienced commanders or instantly restore secure
communications and operational secrecy. Israel has demonstrated how deeply it
can penetrate Hezbollah’s organization. A militia whose methods and
vulnerabilities have been exposed cannot simply purchase its way back to the
advantage it once claimed.The political loss is just as severe. Hassan
Nasrallah’s authority rested partly on a mythology that his successor, Naim
Qassem, cannot recreate by repeating the same slogans. Nasrallah’s death exposed
how vulnerable the organization had become. The destruction of southern villages
and the displacement of Shia families have also exposed the bankruptcy of the
promise that Hezbollah’s weapons would protect those who lived beneath them.
Talk of recovery also serves a domestic purpose. It asks exhausted supporters to
believe that their losses will eventually be redeemed, while encouraging
opponents to believe that disarmament would cost even more. The exaggeration of
Hezbollah’s strength can itself become a political weapon. Yet military weakness
does not make Hezbollah harmless. An arsenal inadequate to deter Israel can
still be turned against Lebanese institutions and citizens. This is the danger
obscured by arguments over how many rockets the party has replaced. Hezbollah
does not need to defeat the Israeli army to intimidate a government reluctant to
confront it.
The Lebanese state’s seizure of a 780-kilogram shipment of explosives at Dahr
al-Baidar, including C4 plastic explosives and TNT, offers ample proof that
Hezbollah continues to move explosives outside state control. Hezbollah
acknowledged ownership and demanded the shipment’s return, claiming the
explosives were intended for use against Israel. The party expects Lebanese
institutions to hand back the means of circumventing their own authority.
Invoking resistance becomes a license to transport explosives across Lebanon and
demand immunity from the state. There is already a precedent. In May 2008,
Hezbollah answered a government move against its telecommunications network with
armed force. More recently, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah warned that enforcing
the Washington agreement would mean going “to civil war.” The threat did not
require decoding. Seen against that record, the latest rearmament reports carry
a domestic message: pursue disarmament and be prepared for an armed
confrontation. My reading is that Hezbollah is signaling a willingness to engage
in open civil conflict before surrendering its military autonomy. Lebanon is
being asked to choose between tolerating an Iranian armed presence and facing
the consequences of challenging it. A movement that makes civil peace
conditional on keeping its weapons is claiming the right to wreck that
peace.President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam must confront that
logic. The state has already decided to prohibit Hezbollah’s military
activities. The remaining question is whether it will enforce its decision.
Waiting for Hezbollah to develop a sense of responsibility toward the people it
has repeatedly endangered gives the party time to preserve the very capacity the
government says it intends to dismantle. Enforcement requires a clear timetable
for disarmament, action against illicit weapons transfers and financing, and a
military leadership answerable to civilian authority for measurable results. It
also requires protecting Shia citizens from the claim that Hezbollah’s survival
and their safety are inseparable. Their right to return home and rebuild cannot
depend on renewing their consent to another Iranian war. The army cannot be
asked to advertise sovereignty while leaving an armed party free to decide where
explosives travel and when a border erupts. Civilian leaders must give it a
clear mandate and insist on implementation. The fear of civil war is real.
Hezbollah’s ability to exploit that fear must end. Each postponement tells the
party that threatening Lebanon works and teaches Tehran that its remaining
investment still buys obedience. No amount of money can restore the old
Hezbollah. Enough political hesitation can still allow it to drag Lebanon into a
new disaster.
Lebanon Does Not Have a Vote in Israel’s Election, So
Why Is It Acting Like It Does?
Elissa El Hachem/Now Lebanon/October 28/2026
Watch Lebanese social media today and you would think Beirut had its own polling
station in Tel Aviv. Hot takes, exit-poll threads, victories declared in
advance. The Lebanese are following Israel’s election as if their names were on
the ballot. In a sense, they are. Just not how they imagine.
Today, reportedly more than 2.5 million votes are already cast, and midday
turnout was the highest for that hour since 1973. Arab citizens of Israel are
flooding polling stations, and stations will stay open past closing time for
those still in line. This vote reaches far beyond Israel: from the Middle East
to Washington, everyone is holding their breath. Israelis are queuing to decide
the region’s future. Lebanese are queuing on Twitter to decide it for them. The
favorite sport is rooting against Benjamin Netanyahu. But ask the Lebanese
cheering for his fall one simple question: and then what? The favorite sport is
rooting against Benjamin Netanyahu. But ask the Lebanese cheering for his fall
one simple question: and then what?
Then comes Gadi Eisenkot. As Israel’s Northern Command chief in 2008, he told an
Israeli newspaper that what happened in Beirut’s Dahiyeh in 2006 would happen in
every village from which Israel is fired upon. Disproportionate force, great
destruction. These are not civilian villages, he said, but military bases. That
is the Dahiyeh doctrine, and he is its author. Today he leads his own party,
says Hezbollah is rebuilding, and speaks of a buffer zone roughly eight
kilometers deep along the border.
Read that again, you who cheer “anyone but Bibi.” The alternative is not a dove.
It is the man who wrote the playbook for flattening villages. Netanyahu is not
the only Israeli who sees south Lebanon as a problem to be solved. He is only
the best known.
Some of the loudest voices rooting for Eisenkot, or simply for Netanyahu’s fall,
are the same people who claim to oppose Hezbollah. Their logic is simple:
Netanyahu is bad for Gaza, so anything is better. A leftist who protests Gaza
and forgets what the “better” option means for Nabatieh, Tyre or Dahiyeh has not
chosen a side. He has chosen a mood.
So who benefits when Lebanese cheer for Netanyahu’s defeat without reading the
alternative? The Iranian axis has spent two years telling Lebanon that Israel is
one monolith to be resisted forever, and that only weapons outside the state can
protect you. Every Lebanese who frames this election as Bibi versus the world
quietly repeats Tehran’s script. Rooting against Netanyahu because Gaza angers
you is a moral position. Doing it without noticing that you are standing next to
Hezbollah is a political one. The result is not yet official as I write, and
this argument does not need it. I am not endorsing Netanyahu. I am not endorsing
Eisenkot. That is for Israelis to decide, as Lebanon’s elections are for
Lebanese. My point is simpler: whoever wins, the doctrine that took shape after
October 7 stays. Preemption, buffer zones, no rebuilding. The two men differ on
tempo and on how much room they give diplomacy, not on direction.
Israel counts its ballots. Lebanon should count what is left of its time.
Which brings me to the only question that matters to Lebanon. Not who wins in
Israel, but what Beirut does with the time it has. A state that disarms
Hezbollah itself, through the framework on the table, gets a negotiating partner
on either side of the Israeli aisle. A state that waits for the Israeli election
to decide its fate gets its fate decided for it. So stop voting in someone
else’s election. Start finishing your own homework.Israel counts its ballots.
Lebanon should count what is left of its time.
**Elissa E Hachem is a journalist and political writer specializing in regional
affairs and governance. Former Regional Media Advisor at the U.S. State
Department’s Arabic Regional Media Hub, with broad experience in strategic
communication across government and private sectors.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on October 28-29/2026/
(Some of the News reports below are
translated from Arabic by AI)
Iran sees only unacceptable ideas in latest mediation to end war,
official says
Reuters/28 October/2026
Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new draft deal to end the war with
the US and Israel, an official briefed on the negotiations said, but a senior
Iranian official said Doha had only put forward unacceptable ideas that did not
amount to an offer. The official briefed on the negotiations, who is not from
Iran, said a new draft peace proposal for the eight-month-old conflict was
presented on Sunday and was being considered by Tehran, with a response expected
by the end of the week. The proposal presented by Qatar sets a seven-day
timeline addressing both Tehran’s and Washington’s concerns, laying out daily
confidence-building steps that each side must take, the official briefed on the
negotiations said. The timeline could begin early next week and several
countries would act as guarantors of the deal, the official added. Shortly
afterwards, a senior Iranian official involved in the talks said Qatar had
presented only "unacceptable ideas and not an offer", and that Tehran’s policy
on showing no flexibility over the nuclear issue remained unchanged. Washington
wants Iran’s decades-long nuclear program to be part of negotiations to end the
war from the outset, while Iran says its conditions — which include an end to
the US blockade of Iranian ports and the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil
exports — must be met first. Iran rejects Western concerns that its nuclear
program is military in nature.
Concerns about risk of new strikes
On Friday, US President Donald Trump repeated threats to strike Iran again,
while Iranian security officials told Reuters Tehran had drawn up detailed plans
to attack Gulf undersea cables if the US and Israel resumed attacks. On Monday,
top officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan also met Iranian officials
in Tehran as part of de-escalation efforts. Qatar said on Tuesday that Iran
needs to stop threats against Arab Gulf states and open the Strait of Hormuz to
show good intentions for mediation efforts to succeed. Gulf states came under
sustained bombardment earlier in the war. The war also reignited fighting
between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. It has eroded
Trump’s approval ratings ahead of the US midterm elections that decide control
of Congress.
Iranians cut essentials and put dreams on hold as war-hit
economy bites
Reuters/28 October/2026
Iranian families are cutting back on food, housing and education as the
eight-month-old war with the United States fuels one of the country’s worst
inflation surges in decades, eroding incomes and pushing households to the
brink. The strain is being felt far beyond the country’s major cities. Workers
say wages no longer cover basic expenses, while businesses face rising costs and
weakening demand as families spend most of their budgets on food, rent and other
necessities. The conflict, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran on
February 28 and followed by Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a US
blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf, has disrupted oil exports, trade and
government revenues. The turmoil has compounded the impact of decades of
sanctions and economic mismanagement. Reuters spoke to more than two dozen
people across Iran from different social and economic backgrounds who said
worsening conditions had left them struggling to afford food, housing,
healthcare and education. “We have no money, no future and no hope. We’re tired
of living in fear, fear of another US attack and fear of not being able to make
ends meet at the end of every month,” said Mohammadali, a 47-year-old shopkeeper
and father of two in the northeastern city of Mashhad. Iran’s Economy Minister
Ali Madanizadeh on Tuesday apologized for the mounting cost-of-living pressures
facing Iranians, state media reported, saying pensioners, workers and civil
servants were bearing the brunt of soaring prices and high inflation.
Iran’s inflation surge has shown little sign of easing. Consumer prices in
September were nearly 90 percent higher than a year earlier, while annual
inflation accelerated to 73.6 percent, according to official data and figures
reported by state media. Food prices have risen even faster. The cost of food
and beverages was 121.8 percent higher than a year ago, forcing many families to
cut spending elsewhere.
Prices outpace paychecks, jobs dry up
For Mahmoud, a 44-year-old government employee in the central city of Isfahan,
the gap between wages and living costs widens every month. “With my salary of
less than $100, you can survive only for 10 days ... My wife and I lie to our
daughters all the time when they ask for a toy or new clothes,” he said.
Official estimates put the minimum monthly cost of living for a three-person
working-class family at around $336, more than three times the average monthly
wage of roughly $92 at the free-market exchange rate. As wages fail to keep pace
with inflation, many families have exhausted savings, cut consumption or
borrowed money to cover daily expenses. Government-mandated pay increases have
been swiftly overtaken by rising prices. For many Iranians, the challenge is no
longer preserving their standard of living but avoiding financial collapse. “We
had to move to my parents’ house last month because my husband got laid off from
a small tile factory in May. We spent all our savings. But my husband is still
jobless and we could no longer afford rent,” said Hamideh, a 39-year-old mother
of two in the northern city of Rasht. Rising housing costs have added to the
squeeze on family budgets. Rents in September were 32.8 percent higher than a
year earlier, while housing, utilities and fuel costs were up nearly 38 percent,
according to official data. The pressure extends to the labor market. The
official unemployment rate climbed to 9.1 percent in the spring, up 1.8
percentage points from a year earlier. The economic participation rate fell to
40.7 percent, indicating fewer working-age Iranians were employed or actively
seeking work. Nearly a quarter of young people aged 15 to 24 are unemployed. “I
have been looking for work since graduating in advertising, but after months of
searching I’ve started to lose hope. Companies are cutting budgets, not hiring.
Most of my classmates are either unemployed or working in fields unrelated to
what they studied,” said 23-year-old Firouzeh, who lives with her parents in the
northwestern city of Urmia.
Studying abroad a distant dream
The weakening rial is also closing off opportunities once seen as pathways to
upward mobility. Iran’s currency has lost more than half its value over the past
year, putting overseas education beyond the reach of many families.“Both my
parents are government employees. Their dream was to send me abroad to become a
medical doctor. But after two years studying in Turkey, I could not pay the
tuition for this year and I am returning home,” said Shahriyar, 25, in Istanbul.
He said several of his friends were in the same situation. Washington’s expanded
sanctions, announced on August 24 as part of “Operation Economic Outcast” and
aimed at cutting Tehran’s funding for the war, have added to the economic strain
on ordinary Iranians, analysts said. Businesses are under pressure. Sanctions
and war-related disruptions have increased the cost of imports and restricted
access to foreign currency and raw materials, while retailers and small
businesses face higher operating costs just as demand weakens, threatening
revenues and jobs. For Iran’s rulers, the challenge is maintaining essential
imports and public services while financing a costly conflict. Central Bank
Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati said in mid-October that US claims Iran’s economy
was collapsing were “an illusion.”The deterioration in living standards also
presents a growing political challenge for the authorities, who remain wary that
worsening economic conditions could reignite nationwide unrest. Economic
grievances have fueled repeated waves of protests in recent years, leaving
officials sensitive to signs that war, inflation and rising unemployment are
further eroding public patience. The clerical establishment responded to
previous outbreaks of unrest with a sweeping crackdown that, according to
Iranian officials and rights groups, killed thousands in January.
Iran Warns Any Israeli-led Attack Would be 'Devastating'
for Global Markets
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday that any
Israel-instigated attack would have a "devastating impact" on global markets.
"Devastating impact on int'l markets of any Israel-instigated military
misadventure” in the Arabian Gulf region “remains major concern for both gas
suppliers and consumers," Araghchi said in a post on X. His post came as Qatari
mediators presented Iran with a new draft deal on Sunday to end the war with the
US and Israel, and Tehran is expected to send a response to the draft by the end
of the week, an official briefed on the negotiations said on Wednesday. The new
draft being considered by Iran sets a seven-day timeline addressing both
Tehran's and Washington's concerns, laying out daily confidence-building steps
that each side must take, the official said. The timeline could begin early
next week and several countries would act as guarantors of the deal, the
official added. Qatar, along with Pakistan, has led mediation to end the war
that the US and Israel launched in February. The conflict has disrupted global
shipping and oil supplies and spilled over across other parts of the Middle
East.
Qatari Mediators Present Iran with New Deal to End the War, Official Says
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Qatari mediators presented Iran with a new draft deal on Sunday to end the war
with the US and Israel, and Tehran is expected to send a response to the draft
by the end of the week, an official briefed on the negotiations said on
Wednesday. The new draft being considered by Iran sets a seven-day timeline
addressing both Tehran's and Washington's concerns, laying out daily
confidence-building steps that each side must take, the official said. The
timeline could begin early next week and several countries would act as
guarantors of the deal, the official added.
Qatar, along with Pakistan, has led mediation to end the war that the US and
Israel launched in February. The conflict has disrupted global shipping and
oil supplies and spilled over across other parts of the Middle East. There
were concerns ahead of Sunday's meeting in Tehran that Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, fighting for another term in a general election, could
resume attacks on Iran this week, the official briefed on the negotiations
said. On Friday, US President Donald Trump repeated threats to strike Iran
again. Earlier mediation efforts helped produce an interim peace agreement in
June, but the deal quickly unraveled.
US Costs of Iran War Rise to Over $47 Billion, According to
Pentagon Estimate
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
The US military has spent over $47 billion so far to prosecute the war in Iran,
more than 25% higher than the Defense Department's estimate in July, according
to Pentagon data obtained by Reuters. The Pentagon did not immediately respond
to a request for comment on its estimate, which has not been shared publicly.
The disclosure about the rising cost of the Iran war comes as Republicans
wrestle with the political fallout of the unpopular conflict ahead of the
November 3 election that will determine control of Congress for the next two
years. The war's impact on global energy costs has weighed on support for
Republican candidates and hurt President Donald Trump's approval ratings.
Trump's Republican Party holds a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress.
The Pentagon's latest estimate was tied to the operational costs of carrying out
the war, with a projected cost of more than $29 billion to replace expended
munitions used in the conflict. More than $6 billion would be needed to replace
military equipment and so-called "platform losses," which include the loss of
aircraft including many drones lost during the war. Trump launched the Iran war
jointly with Israel in February, predicting that the conflict would last a short
time. Trump's initial strategy in the Iran war focused on first using expensive,
high-end precision missiles to bomb Iran's defenses so it could later use less
expensive munitions, including gravity bombs like the air-launched JDAMs, which
are plentiful. But an April ceasefire gave time for Iran to dig out underground
storage facilities, bringing back online some Iranian defenses, as well as
missiles and drones that had been inaccessible. Trump has since imposed a naval
blockade on Iran to starve it of oil export revenue and held out the possibility
of restarting combat operations after the midterm elections. US officials,
speaking on condition of anonymity, say the Pentagon has been planning to
restart heavy fighting if ordered to do so. The latest Pentagon estimate
compares to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's July estimate of $37.5 billion for
the cost of the war. While the figures include a host of operational costs, from
flight operations to cyber support, the US military's Iran war cost estimates
did not clearly account for the massive expense expected to repair damage to US
bases sustained by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Grossi: No Signs Iran Tried to Repair Nuclear Facilities Damaged in US Strikes
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
The head of the UN nuclear agency said Tuesday there has been no indication Iran
has tried to repair or reconstruct its nuclear facilities damaged in US and
Israeli military strikes this year or last year. President Donald Trump has said
one of the major reasons the US went to war with Iran on February 28 was to deny
Tehran the ability to develop nuclear weapons, even as he has insisted that
strikes the US carried out on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 “obliterated”
the country’s atomic program. During a UN Security Council meeting,
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi urged Iran to give
inspectors access to all nuclear sites, including those damaged in the military
attacks. The IAEA has not been able to verify the status of Iran’s stockpile of
near weapons-grade uranium since the US bombed its sites last year. However,
Grossi said that “since June 2025, we have not identified any activity to repair
or reconstruct any of the facilities damaged in the military attacks of 2025 and
2026.” Trump has consistently downplayed the economic impact of the Iran war,
which has emerged as a liability for Republicans heading into next week’s
midterm elections, and has argued that higher fuel prices are worth paying to
prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. The White House didn’t immediately respond Tuesday
evening to a request for comment on Grossi’s remarks. Iran maintains that its
nuclear program is peaceful. However, the IAEA says the country has a stockpile
of 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity — a short, technical
step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
Kuwait Summons Iranian Ambassador after Embassy Statement on 'Plot'
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Kuwait summoned Iran's ambassador on Wednesday to protest over a statement by
the Iranian embassy that it said amounted to interference in its internal
affairs, the foreign ministry said.
Kuwait rejected any interference in rulings issued by its courts and called on
Iran to comply with international law and the UN Charter, particularly the
principle of good-neighborliness, the ministry said in a statement.
Netanyahu falls short of majority as opposition, Arab
parties win 67 Seats
Updated 28 October 2026 09:21
Agencies/October 27, 2026
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats,
while the opposition Change bloc won 48 and Arab parties secured 19, after 100
percent of regular ballots were counted in Israel’s general election. The
figures, which exclude double envelopes, reflect around 86 percent of all votes
cast in the 2026 election. The final distribution of seats remains subject to
the counting of the outstanding ballots. Netanyahu’s bloc remains short of the
61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority in the 120-member Knesset, leaving
the formation of the next government dependent on coalition negotiations. The
election has been closely watched amid public discontent with Netanyahu’s
far-right government and a political landscape marked by repeated electoral
deadlock. Exit polls had suggested there was no clear winner, raising the
prospect of difficult negotiations over the formation of a government. Israeli
President Isaac Herzog, who is tasked with determining which candidate to tap to
form a government, said on Wednesday that every effort must be made to avoid a
new election. “One thing must be clear, and I said this before the elections
too: we must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another
round of elections,” he said. Netanyahu has called for a strong right-wing
government and ruled out cooperation with Arab parties, which he has described
as anti-Zionist. Centrist former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, whose Yashar
party secured 21 seats, has expressed conditional openness to working with
Arab-led parties, although such an arrangement remains politically sensitive.
Likud won 26 seats, while the Joint List and Together secured 12 seats each. The
Democrats won eight seats, while Yisrael Beiteinu, Ra’am, United Torah Judaism,
Otzma Yehudit and Shas each secured seven. Religious Zionism and Identity won
six seats. The results leave Netanyahu facing the challenge of securing enough
support to form a government, while opposition parties would also need to
overcome political differences to assemble an alternative coalition.
Netanyahu, Eisenkot Stake Rival Claims to Lead Israel After
Deadlocked Vote
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot offered competing
claims to lead Israel after Tuesday's election, with Netanyahu calling for a
right-wing government and Eisenkot saying voters had rejected the longtime
Israeli leader, even as exit polls left their blocs deadlocked.
While the projected results would represent a setback for Netanyahu and his
nationalist-religious coalition, the deadlock could work in his favor, leaving
the 77-year-old in office as a caretaker prime minister during what are likely
to be prolonged coalition negotiations or even until another election can be
held. With vote counts trickling in, Kan 11 and Channel 13 exit polls had the
blocs tied at 51 seats each, while Channel 12 gave Netanyahu's Likud-led bloc a
narrow 52-49 edge. That left both sides short of the 61 seats needed for a
majority in the 120-seat Knesset, and neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot claimed
victory. Tuesday's vote was the first election since the Hamas-led attack of
October 7, 2023, and the ensuing wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Far-right
religious parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were projected to
take a combined 13 seats within Netanyahu's bloc – with no major gains for
either of them. Arab parties outside the two main blocs could hold the balance
of power. But Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and a former military
chief, has all but ruled out forming a government with them, complicating his
path to power.
SECURITY FIGHT SHARPENS
Netanyah, addressing party faithful after 3 a.m. (0100 GMT) at Likud election
headquarters in Jerusalem, called for the formation of “a strong, right-wing
national government.”He also highlighted Israel's military successes and raised
the prospect of renewed joint action with US President Donald Trump against
Iran. "Israel faces a singular historical opportunity, together with our partner
President Trump, to remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all. But
ulterior motives must not divert us from this sacred mission," he said. Eisenkot
said the public had voted against Netanyahu remaining prime minister and called
on him to retire from politics, while warning him not to use Israel's security
for political purposes. “Netanyahu is a caretaker prime minister, without a
mandate or the people's trust,” Eisenkot said, calling on the security
establishment to “stand firm” against any attempt to put political interests
ahead of Israel's security. Voter turnout was 77.7%, Israel's Central Elections
Committee said, the highest in more than two decades and around 7 percentage
points higher than in 2022. Final results are expected on Thursday or Friday,
and Israel's fragmented political system leaves smaller parties potential
kingmakers in coalition negotiations that have run to weeks or months after
past elections. If neither bloc can form a government, another vote may need to
be held, something Eisenkot opposed given the high voter turnout. Yohanan
Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, called the exit polls a
major defeat for Netanyahu's coalition but cautioned that Eisenkot had not
emerged as a clear winner and much could change as votes were counted.
The Israeli shekel weakened modestly on the indecisive result.
NETANYAHU SETBACK, NO CLEAR WINNER
If the exit poll projections hold, Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, which at its
height held 68 seats, would fall far short of the 61 needed to govern, leaving
him with no clear path to forming a government. Eisenkot, 66, who lost a son and
two nephews in the Gaza war, emerged as Netanyahu's strongest challenger,
stressing his security credentials while positioning himself as a centrist
domestically. He entered politics only four years ago and joined Netanyahu's
war cabinet after the 2023 Hamas attack, but quit eight months later,
criticizing the prime minister's leadership.
Eisenkot offers a break with Netanyahu's leadership and far-right allies, but
not with the hawkish approach to security that has become more entrenched since
the 2023 Hamas attack. He opposes Palestinian statehood and says Hamas'
military wing must be destroyed or dismantled.
Eisenkot says Israel's response — a war that has killed more than 74,000
Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities — was a failure because Hamas
remains in charge. The headquarters of the Joint List, an alliance of several
Arab parties, burst into whistles and applause when exit polls were released, on
a historic night for turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel. “We refuse
the occupation and racism, and we will remain here,” said Faten Gattas, a
candidate in the Joint List, in a speech at the alliance’s headquarters in
Nazareth. Candidates hoped high Arab turnout would allow them to play a decisive
role in blocking Netanyahu's coalition from returning to power.
A WARTIME VERDICT
Voters grappled with the trauma of Israel's deadliest day, when Hamas killed
1,200 people and took 251 hostage, and the wars in Gaza and with Lebanon's
Hezbollah and Iran that followed. While Netanyahu was criticized for the
country's biggest security failure, he argued that he had made Israel and the
world safer by killing top leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. The policies of
Netanyahu's right-wing coalition have been divisive at home and deepened
Israel's international isolation, but he has portrayed himself as the leader
with the mettle to face down Israel's foes. Netanyahu, 77, has served as prime
minister for nearly 19 of the past 30 years and has repeatedly survived
political crises. His opponents have managed to wrest the premiership from him
only once since 2009, after four inconclusive elections in two years. Eighteen
months later, he was back. He entered the election facing long-standing
corruption charges, which he denies, and criticism over intelligence failures
that allowed Hamas-led fighters to carry out their attack.
What’s Ahead as Votes Are Counted in an Israeli Election with No Clear Winner
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Israelis appear to have handed a rebuke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in
national elections, but what’s next is uncertain as exit polls suggest there's
no clear winner and no obvious path to a governing majority. The election was
widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving prime
minister, who gave a defiant speech to his supporters just after 3 a.m. on
Wednesday in Jerusalem. His party, Likud, appears to have gotten the most votes.
But the exit polls by major Israeli TV stations indicate that support for his
religious-national coalition dropped significantly. The exit polls suggested his
opponents — led by Netanyahu’s chief rival, Gadi Eisenkot, who also rallied
exuberant supporters in Tel Aviv early on Wednesday — could secure a solid
majority in the next parliament. But whether those disparate parties, which
include Arab-led parties, can form a government is uncertain. It would likely
take weeks of haggling or possibly new elections. Here are some key points to
know on Wednesday morning, hours after the polls closed in Israel. Exit polls
suggest no clear winner and complex power-jockeying ahead. In Israel, voters
choose not individuals but parties. Since no party has ever captured a
parliamentary majority on its own, party leaders must agree to come together in
a governing coalition. Exit polls indicate that Netanyahu's bloc of supporters
won about 51 seats in parliament, approximately the same as the bloc led by
Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff. That would leave each side well
below the 61 seats needed to form a government with a parliamentary majority.
The exit polls suggested that Arab-led parties captured the remaining 19 seats.
With just under a third of the ballots counted early on Wednesday morning,
Israel’s Central Elections Committee reported 22.02% of the vote went to Likud,
the party led by Netanyahu, and 15.46% to Eisenkot's Yashar party. The count
does not indicate how many seats each party will win in the parliament.
Arab parties could play a key role in next coalition
Final official results aren't expected until later this week and they may vary
from the exit polls, which, like all surveys, are subject to potential error. If
the Arab parties do as well as the exit polls suggest, they could play a
decisive role in selecting Israel's next prime minister. In his election night
speech, Netanyahu repeated his refusal to create a government relying on Arab
parties. Eisenkot has signaled he is ready to work with them under certain
conditions, but that could risk alienating some of his partners.
Campaigns gave short shrift to Palestinian issues
Israelis are largely opposed to a Palestinian state. No major candidate
advocated a return to the long-moribund peace process. Even Mansour Abbas, a
Palestinian Arab politician who leads Ra’am, the first Arab-led party to join a
governing coalition in 2021, focused his campaign on concerns about crime in
Arab communities. As exit polls were shown on a screen at an Abbas election
night event in Sakhnin, an Arab city in northern Israel, supporters of the small
Arab-led party Ra’am erupted in celebration.
Enduring impact of Oct. 7 attacks
This election was held against the background of the enduring trauma of the
Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, when fighters killed 1,200 people, mostly
civilians, and abducted 251 others, and the ensuing wars in Gaza and beyond. The
deadliest day in Israel’s history featured prominently in the campaigns.
Israelis have focused on the security failures surrounding Oct. 7 and the
enormous burden on their society, rather than on the humanitarian situation in
war-devastated Gaza. Netanyahu has rejected an investigation into Oct. 7 and
blamed the army for the failures that day. His supporters say he led the country
back from that difficult day and scored important achievements in wars in Gaza,
Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu’s opponents said he should be held accountable for
the security failures that occurred on his watch and have demanded a commission
of inquiry.
Religious divide over military service
The country has also been deeply divided by exemptions from military service
granted to ultra-Orthodox males. These exemptions are especially contentious
after three years of wars. Netanyahu’s governing coalitions have long relied on
ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that have demanded these exemptions remain in
place. Eisenkot — who lost his son and two nephews to combat in Gaza — has vowed
to end the de facto exemptions. He repeated that promise speaking to supporters
on Wednesday morning. The exit polls, which also indicated a drop in support for
ultra-Orthodox parties, signaled voter unhappiness over these exemptions.
High voter turnout
The final update from Israel’s Central Elections Committee put voter turnout at
77.7% of eligible voters as polls closed Tuesday night. That’s the highest
turnout since 1999, and just over seven percentage points higher than in the
previous election in 2022, reflecting the high stakes of the election.
Arab Parties in Israel Signal Readiness to Help Oust Netanyahu
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
An alliance of predominantly Arab parties in Israel has signaled its willingness
to help oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right and religious
coalition following the country's parliamentary elections, according to dpa.
Yousef Jabareen, chairman of the Joint List, said Wednesday that Netanyahu's
government had made life unbearable for Arab citizens. "The government of
Netanyahu and [far-right National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir has made
life hell for every Arab citizen," Jabareen said. He described the support for
Arab parties in Tuesday's elections as "historic."With most votes counted, the
Joint List and the conservative Islamist Ra'am party were projected to win a
combined 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset. The Arab parties could play a
decisive role in determining the next government, as neither Netanyahu's bloc
nor the opposition camp led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot is expected
to secure a majority. "We will know how to leverage our political strength to
advance the values we believe in," Jabareen said. He added that his party was
prepared to "pave the way for ousting the government of Netanyahu, Ben Gvir and
Smotrich, and send them home." Arab citizens account for approximately one-fifth
of Israel's population.
Iraqi PM Visits Syria as Neighbors Seek to Boost Economic Ties
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Damascus on Wednesday and was met
by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syrian state media said, as the neighbors seek to
bolster economic and energy cooperation. It is the first visit by an Iraqi prime
minister since the new authorities took power after toppling longtime Syrian
ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 following more than 13 years of civil
war. Baghdad had initially dealt cautiously with the new Syrian authorities,
though senior Iraqi political, intelligence and judicial officials have visited
Damascus since Assad's ouster.
Al-Sharaa received al-Zaidi and his accompanying delegation at Damascus
international airport, Syrian state television reported. Iraq is seeking to
strengthen ties with a neighbor with whom it shares a 600-kilometer (370-mile)
border, while Syria is working to become a transit hub for global trade,
particularly as countries look for alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.
Al-Sharaa and al-Zaidi also met last month in New York on the sidelines of the
United Nations General Assembly. In an interview broadcast on Tuesday by Iraqi
television channel Dijlah, al-Sharaa welcomed al-Zaidi's visit and said that "in
the past year and a half, something positive has been built in Syrian-Iraqi
relations, particularly in economic matters". He said his country sees ties with
Iraq in terms of their "great historical and economic commonalities" rather than
sectarian terms. Iraq recently began exporting limited quantities of oil through
Syria, after maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted
following the outbreak of the Middle East war earlier this year. In July,
Damascus and Baghdad signed a memorandum of understanding to revive a pipeline
for transporting oil from Iraq to Syria's coast, linking Iraqi production to
export markets in the Mediterranean and beyond. In February, the United States
transferred over 5,700 ISIS group detainees from more than 60 countries to Iraq,
after they had been held for years at prisons in north and northeast Syria
administered by Kurdish forces.In Tuesday's interview, al-Sharaa said some of
the around 3,000 Syrian detainees transferred to Iraq had "no connection" to
ISIS, with efforts underway to categorize them, examine Syria's responsibility
and possibilities for repatriation.
Serbia: ‘ISIS Supporter’ Killed after Attacking Guard
Outside Israeli Embassy
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Serbian police killed an attacker outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade on
Wednesday after an officer was targeted in a "terrorist attack", outgoing
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said. "A minor whose identity has yet to be
established... attacked a member of the police with two knives," Dacic said,
also raising the terrorism threat to its highest level. The interior ministry
said in a statement the guard killed the attacker in self-defense but suffered a
minor knife wound to the face in the incident just after midnight on Wednesday.
Dacic said security services had been monitoring the attacker, who was "known to
be a supporter of ISIS" and was believed to be from the western city of Sabac.
"His Instagram profile featured a black flag and the ISIS emblem," he added.
Dacic said the terrorism threat level had been raised to its highest, or "red
alert". "This means tighter security checks and an increased police presence at
sensitive sites, including infrastructure facilities and places where large
crowds gather”. Police photos from the scene showed the guard's booth outside
the embassy and the area sealed off by police tape as officers in full gear
stood nearby. Although such attacks are rare in Serbia, the Israeli embassy in
Belgrade has been targeted before. In June 2024, an attacker armed with a
crossbow seriously wounded a police officer guarding the embassy before being
shot dead by police. The attacker was identified at the time as a 25-year-old
man from a village near Belgrade who had embraced extremist views. Wednesday's
attack comes just days after Serbia held a key early parliamentary election on
Sunday in which long-ruling former President Aleksandar Vucic was defeated by a
youth-led movement after almost two years of protests against him. But Vucic and
his allies still control the police as the new government is yet to be formed.
Israel also held its parliamentary vote Tuesday that exit polls said produced no
clear winner.
Two Drones Shot Down Near US Embassy in Baghdad, Sparking
Security Alert
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Air defenses at the US Embassy in Baghdad shot down two suspected reconnaissance
drones over the heavily fortified Green Zone on Tuesday, Iraqi security sources
said, triggering a security alert in the capital. The sources said the drones
were believed to be unarmed and intended for surveillance. The embassy sounded
its alarms as the aircraft flew over the Green Zone, which houses government
buildings and foreign diplomatic missions. Iraq’s Security Media Cell, however,
reported the interception of only one unidentified drone. “The sound heard in
Baghdad resulted from the interception of an unidentified aircraft near the
Green Zone,” Lieutenant General Saad Maan, head of the cell, said in a
statement. Witnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat they heard two loud explosions near
the interception sites, while residents reported finding drone wreckage near Al-Rasheed
Street in Baghdad’s old city center. Reuters cited two security sources as
saying the embassy’s air defenses were activated after detecting the drones
approaching the Green Zone. Both were shot down, with wreckage recovered at
separate locations.
Security forces were investigating their origin and intended destination, the
sources added.
The US Embassy has faced rocket and drone attacks since the United States and
Israel launched strikes on Iran. Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that debris was
scattered around the Green Zone, the Shorja market, Al-Rasheed Street and the
Kadhimiya district. No civilian casualties or injuries were reported. The
incident marked the first breach of its kind in the area in many months. In
previous years, the Green Zone had repeatedly come under attacks targeting the
US Embassy and other diplomatic missions, often blamed on Iran-backed armed
factions.
Motives
The incident came less than a month after the withdrawal of US-led coalition
forces from Iraq, whose presence armed factions had long cited to justify
attacks on diplomatic and military facilities.The purpose of the drone flights
remains unclear. Some observers linked the incident to tensions between
Washington and Tehran, while others suggested it could be political signaling
between rival groups within the Coordination Framework and armed factions.
Baghdad launched a campaign months ago to bring factional weapons under state
control and integrate armed groups into the security forces. The initiative was
initially due to be completed by September 30, coinciding with the coalition’s
withdrawal, but the government later postponed the deadline until June 2027.
While some factions have complied, others continue to oppose the plan, including
the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah. The group calling itself the Islamic
Resistance in Iraq had previously pledged to support Iran if the United States
resumed its war in the region.
Al-Sharaa: Syrian-Iraqi Borders Are Completely Secure, ISIS Threats Have Dropped
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa stressed on Tuesday that the Syrian-Iraqi
borders are completely secure, saying joint coordination was underway between
the two neighbors. In an interview with Iraq’s Dijlah TV, he added that the
threats posed by the ISIS terrorist group have dropped, saying that no
organization currently presents a danger to the two countries. Al-Sharaa also
said he welcomes a visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to Syria. The
Syrian and Iraqi governments are in agreement over several issues that bind
them. Iraqi media have reported that al-Zaidi is set to kick off an official
visit to Syria on Wednesday. He will visit at the head of a large ministerial
delegation to discuss bilateral ties, and issues related to water, oil and trade
between the two countries. The relationship with Iraq is not based on sectarian
or ethnic considerations but on shared history and deep economic ties, al-Sharaa
stressed. He said visiting the shrine of Sayyida Zeinab is available while
ensuring security conditions, noting that individuals who tried to exploit the
issue to stir sectarian strife have been arrested. "Syria does not view Iraq
through a sectarian lens. We share a great deal in common, and social relations
between Iraq and Syria have remained healthy for years. Since we came to power,
Baghdad's policies have been positive, despite attempts by some factions to
adopt differing stances,” al-Sharaa said. “I did not intervene in any sectarian
conflict in Iraq following the events of 2003. I was released from prison in
Iraq in 2011, after which I returned to Syria,” he remarked. "Syria’s stability
is in the interest of Iraq and vice versa. We must build upon our common ground
and establish an appropriate environment for relations, free of fears. What
unites us is greater than what divides us, and we have had enough of wars and
disputes. I have not assaulted any civilian in Iraq," he declared. “We are
communicating with international companies to connect the Baniyas pipeline to
oil refineries, and memorandums of understanding have been signed between Syria
and Iraq regarding the Baniyas–Kirkuk pipeline,” al-Sharaa went on to say.
“Syria is Iraq's gateway and maritime outlet, serving as the strategic route to
the West. Syria is considered Iraq's gateway to the Mediterranean Sea for oil
exports,” he noted.
France Says Israel Vote Will Not Deter Push for Two-State
Solution
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
France will continue to push for a two-state solution regardless of the outcome
of Israel's election, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Wednesday. "Our
course will not change," whether the coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu wins or the opposition bloc under Gadi Eisenkot claims
victory, Barrot told France 2 television. France and Israel have had a strained
relationship, particularly since President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of a
Palestinian state a year ago. More recently, Macron announced that France would
cease trade with illegal Israeli settlements located in the occupied West Bank.
Barrot declined to say, however, whether the relationship would be any smoother
should the opposition bloc come to power. "Our course is very clear, and our
position remains unchanged," Barrot said. "What we want is security for Israel,
but also the prospect of two states living side-by-side -- recognized, respected
in their rights, and at peace."No clear majority had emerged as of early
Wednesday -- following the counting of half the votes. "We must let things take
their course. We must accept the governments that the people choose," Barrot
said.
Jordanian Source: Areas Outside Govt Control in South Syria Are Haven for
Terrorists, Drug Traffickers
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
An informed Jordanian source confirmed that “areas near the northern border with
Syria have provided, and continue to provide, a haven for terrorists and drug
traffickers.”The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that “numerous targets inside Syria
are not under the control of the Syrian government,” noting that these
gatherings “have served as a launchpad to target Jordanian security.”Jordanian
security asserted that it “seeks to protect its borders from sites that serve as
a launchpad for operations targeting its security and stability, which are areas
outside the control of regular Syrian security forces.”Meanwhile, Jordan has
found itself “at the forefront of confronting the risks of terrorist activity on
its borders,” according to the source. The source stated that the death toll
from Jordanian airstrikes targeting ISIS operatives in southern Syria has risen
“to at least 24 terrorists.”The same source linked “ISIS to drug trafficking
networks, which have recently resumed their operations in southern Syria.”The
Jordanian source maintained that the strikes were based on precise
intelligence.Amman also expressed its willingness to cooperate with Damascus on
security assessments, intelligence sharing and border protection.
Syria, however, condemned the bombardment, denied any prior coordination with
Jordan and accused Amman of carrying out strikes that killed several civilians.
Jordanian sources disputed that account, insisting the operation had been
coordinated with Syrian authorities and targeted locations identified through
confirmed intelligence. They linked the ISIS operatives targeted in the strikes
to the cell behind last Friday’s attack at a church in the village of Hammoud,
in Jordan’s Karak governorate. The Jordanian source noted that the kingdom had
largely secured its northern border through its own efforts since 2012,
confronting militias and militant groups operating in southern Syria that have
repeatedly threatened Jordanian civilians. The airstrikes destroyed warehouses
holding large quantities of weapons and narcotics near Sweida and in the Syrian
desert, according to intelligence information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat. The
intelligence also pointed to cooperation between militant groups in southern
Syria and smuggling networks along the Jordanian border. An informed source
described the links, coupled with a recent rise in intercepted smuggling
attempts, as a dangerous development for the kingdom’s security. Jordanian
forces have intercepted 160 infiltration and smuggling attempts along the Syrian
border since the beginning of the year, including 22 infiltration attempts and
138 operations involving drugs and weapons. Seized contraband included large
quantities of narcotic pills and other drugs, weapons, explosives, drones, GPS
devices and communications equipment. Smugglers have increasingly used drones
and balloons, complicating border surveillance and efforts to trace the origins
of cross-border operations. Jordanian Minister of Government Communication
Mohammad Momani warned that his country’s patience was running out over militant
activity threatening national security. Between 2024 and 2026, Jordan carried
out several airstrikes against drug-traffickers, arms smugglers and militant
groups under security and intelligence-sharing arrangements with the Syrian
government. The operations were aimed at protecting civilians on both sides of
the border from militant and criminal networks.
Yemeni Govt Forces Press Advance on Houthis Near Bab al-Mandeb, in Taiz
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Fighting spread across Yemen on Tuesday as government forces renewed their push
against remaining Houthi pockets near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, while
battles raged around Taiz amid heavy airstrikes on Houthi positions,
reinforcements and supply lines.
Government forces reported gains in several strategic positions. Fierce clashes
erupted near Bab al-Mandeb between the Houthis and government forces backed by
the Giants Brigades, Nation's Shield Forces and Tihama Brigades, as troops
battled to seize hills overlooking the vital waterway.
The fighting coincided with airstrikes on Houthi positions around the port city
of Mokha and along Yemen's western coast. Government military sources said
troops captured strategic hilltops after attacking Houthi positions, killing and
wounding fighters and forcing others to flee by boat.
Preliminary reports pointed to strikes on boats and maritime supplies believed
to be used by the Houthis to ferry reinforcements and equipment to positions
near the strait. Sources in the Nation's Shield Forces dismissed reports that
the Houthis had seized the Kahboub mountains, saying their troops remained
deployed at Dhubab Airport and across the surrounding mountain range.
Government forces push forward in Taiz
Battles continued across Taiz city and its surrounding countryside, with
airstrikes pounding Houthi positions, troop concentrations and reinforcements as
government forces and local resistance fighters sought to strengthen their
positions and thwart Houthi advances. Government military sources said troops
seized Mount al-Midan after fierce fighting backed by airstrikes. Field sources
said government troops and local fighters also established fire control over in
areas along the Al-Dhabab road. Troops had begun clearing, securing and
consolidating their newly captured positions, said Yemeni army Colonel
Abdulbasit al-Bahr. But government forces met stiff resistance near the Old
Airport military camp and the Madrat area, where heavy fire and heavy weapons
thwarted their attempts to advance, he revealed. He reported Houthi fighters
killed, wounded and captured, along with military vehicles destroyed or set
ablaze.
Heavy clashes also broke out on the Shaqab and Al-Aqroud fronts, with both sides
exchanging fire using various weapons. Government sources said troops repelled a
Houthi attack in Al-Aqroud. Authorities in Taiz said Houthi sniper fire killed
five civilians and wounded five others, including children, in the villages of
Hamma, Al-Damna and nearby communities. Shelling also struck residential
neighborhoods on the city's outskirts. Local sources reported airstrikes near
Taiz Airport and across several areas of the province.
1,276 strikes
Yemen's armed forces said they carried out 1,276 strikes in 24 hours under
Operation Dawn of Yemen, targeting Houthi military capabilities across multiple
fronts in an indication of the widening campaign. Military spokesman Colonel
Majed al-Nuzaili said the strikes targeted command-and-control centers,
defensive positions, firing positions, reinforcements, transport and supply
vehicles, and weapons and ammunition depots. Strikes also hit targets deeper
inside Houthi-held territory in an effort to disrupt the group's ability to
direct operations and regroup its forces, he said.
The military said the operations had neutralized about 382 Houthi commanders and
fighters, destroyed or disabled 140 military vehicles and heavy weapons, and
destroyed weapons and ammunition depots.Nuzaili said simultaneous operations
were continuing across Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda and the southern and
southwestern fronts, targeting Houthi movements, defenses and supply lines. The
aim, he said, was to restrict the Houthis' ability to move reserves and
concentrate forces on a single front. As fighting intensified, government
officials and rights groups raised alarms over the impact of shelling and the
siege on civilians in Taiz. Yemen's Human Rights Ministry condemned attacks on
densely populated neighborhoods with mortar shells, Katyusha rockets and
ballistic missiles. It urged the international community to act to halt the
attacks, lift the siege and hold those responsible for targeting civilians and
civilian property accountable. On the diplomatic front, Yemeni Prime Minister
Shaya al-Zindani discussed the military escalation and its humanitarian fallout
with European Union Ambassador to Yemen Patrick Simonnet, including the
continuing siege of Taiz and attacks on civilian facilities. Zindani urged
international pressure to end the Houthi siege and reopen roads for civilians
and humanitarian aid. He also pointed to the European Commission's allocation of
an additional 22.5 million euros in humanitarian assistance for Yemen.
Zelensky Fears New Yalta at Russia-China-US Summit
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in comments published Wednesday
that an expected meeting between Russian, US and Chinese leaders could offer a
platform to redistribute influence, similar to what happened after World War II.
"We really don't want this to turn into 'Yalta 2, 3, 4', with a redistribution
of influence," he said, referring to the 1945 summit of Soviet, US and British
leaders on dividing up the post-World War II map. The Kremlin has indicated that
a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US and Chinese
counterparts, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific
summit next month is under preparation. "What China, Russia, and the United
States might discuss has not yet been clearly defined today," Zelensky said in
comments to journalists. Russia has for years been seeking a comprehensive
agreement with Washington on Europe's security architecture, and in particular
an end to NATO's expansion near Russia's borders. It casts its full-scale
invasion of Ukraine as countering a threat posed by NATO -- a position widely
rejected in Kyiv and the West, which says the invasion is an imperialistic
land-grab by Putin. "Russia wants this meeting more than anyone," Zelensky said,
warning against handing Moscow "another major diplomatic advantage".His comments
came as Russia and Ukraine are due to meet next month with US envoys in the
United Arab Emirates in a bid to revive talks towards ending Europe's worst
conflict since World War II. No date has yet been set for the meeting, but
Zelensky said Ukraine wanted it to take place before the potential three-way
talks between the Russian, US and Chinese leaders. Zelensky also urged the
United States to increase its supplies of Patriot air defense missiles, crucial
to intercepting Russian attacks. Ukraine had been receiving 12 a month from the
United States this year, but has "to shoot down 150 ballistic missiles a month,"
Zelensky said. Kyiv is also seeking a joint agreement to halt attacks on energy
infrastructure ahead of winter and a maritime ceasefire to help safeguard its
grain exports. But Russia has rejected the idea of partial pauses in fighting
before a final peace agreement has been reached.
Local Ukraine Ceasefire Holds for Second Day
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
A US-brokered local ceasefire in southern Ukraine was holding for a second day,
both sides said on Wednesday, as hopes grew that vital food and medicine would
be able to reach stranded residents. Locals in the city of Oleshky, under
Russian occupation in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, have faced food, water
and medicine shortages for months, caught in the crossfire between both sides.
Some of the estimated 2,000 still there had resorted to hunting and eating
pigeons, former residents who are still in touch with those in the city told AFP.
The human rights ombudsmen of both Russia and Ukraine said Wednesday that the
truce, which came into effect early Tuesday morning, was still holding. "30
hours of the ceasefire in Oleshky have passed without a single incident," said
Ukraine's Dmytro Lubinets. "No incidents have been recorded in the 30 hours of
the ceasefire in Oleshky," Russia's Yana Lantratova said in a similarly worded
statement. The planned truce was announced by US First Lady Melania Trump after
months of mounting international concern over the fate of residents in the city.
It remains unclear how many citizens will choose to leave, or what route they
will have to take. Crossing the frontline -- marked by the Dnipro river -- is
all but impossible, and Russian-installed officials have indicated they could
have to travel through Russian-occupied Crimea. Russian officials said most of
those who wanted to flee had already done so. A senior Ukrainian official also
told AFP that many people in the city wanted to stay, so the ceasefire operation
was designed to allow humanitarian supplies into the city. Oleshky was captured
by Russian forces as the start of their 2022 invasion. David Arakhamia, a
Ukrainian lawmaker who took part in peace negotiations with Russia in 2022,
described the ceasefire as the "biggest de-escalation since 2022". Previous
short-lived truces in the war -- such as to mark Orthodox Easter -- have seen
drop-offs in aerial attacks but been marred by accusations of widespread
violations by both sides.
World
Flavio Bolsonaro and Family to Receive US Visas After Leaving Brazil, State
Department Says
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has left the country for the United States
after losing Sunday's presidential election, three sources said, with the US
State Department due to grant him and his family entry visas. Bolsonaro, who has
yet to concede to leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left Brazil after
refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports. The
ruling relates to a money laundering probe in which he denies wrongdoing.
Argentina's migration department said on Wednesday that Bolsonaro and his family
had briefly entered the country's Misiones province on Tuesday night through a
road crossing, with valid travel documents, before boarding a private plane
bound for Guayaquil, Ecuador at 11:30 pm local time (0230 GMT). Argentina cited
the flight plan, for the plane operated by air charter company Baires Fly, as
the source for the aircraft's destination. The Ecuadorian foreign ministry did
not respond to an emailed request for comment outside regular hours. The current
location of Bolsonaro, his wife and two daughters was not immediately clear.
Speaking to reporters late on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump had said that
he had heard Bolsonaro was in Argentina.
"The State Department will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family and
allow them entry into the United States," a senior State Department official
said.
BRAZIL-US RIFT GROWS
Bolsonaro's departure threatens to deepen a rift between the two most populous
nations in the Americas. Lula has accused Washington of colluding with the
Bolsonaros to put them back in power, and Reuters reported ahead of Sunday's
election on a US State Department campaign to restore them to office. Trump told
reporters on Wednesday that he would approve of Bolsonaro coming to the United
States."Well, I would approve. I think they're fine people. The election was
very strange, and I thought it was terrible. It's gotten bad reviews. You look
at what happened to their market", Trump said. "I think it's so terrible to see
it. I didn't take sides, you know. I know them both. I know Lula. I know Flavio
a little bit. I know the father very well. The father was treated really badly.
I thought, but I wasn't involved. That's Brazil. It's a different country," he
said.
Trump has previously alleged Flavio's father, former President Jair Bolsonaro,
was a victim of judicial persecution in Brazil. The elder Bolsonaro also went
to the United States after refusing to concede to Lula in 2022, when former US
President Joe Biden was in office. He eventually returned but was later given a
27-year sentence for plotting a coup after his supporters stormed government
buildings in Brasilia. On Monday, Trump had said the Brazilian vote "looked like
another rigged election." Lula, speaking in Brasilia, said he had just heard
that Flavio had left the country, and called it shameful, saying he should have
stayed in Brazil and proved his innocence. Bolsonaro had been favored to win
Sunday's presidential election but ended up losing in a shock result.
ORDERED TO HAND OVER PASSPORTS
On Monday, he was given 24 hours to surrender his passports, which were
canceled after the deadline lapsed, two sources said. In a court ruling seen by
Reuters, the Supreme Court cited the risk of Bolsonaro fleeing Brazil and his
"significant financial resources" in ordering his passports seized. Bolsonaro,
who loses his immunity from prosecution when his Senate term ends in February,
had said on Monday he had no plans to flee. "I have never thought about leaving
the country," he said. "I will hand over my passports and defend myself against
this travesty, which is a clear attempt to intimidate me."His departure appeared
to have caught his campaign manager off guard. "We are surprised by the news
because, just yesterday, we discussed the need for Flavio — given the 60 million
votes he received — to take on this role as leader of the opposition," Senator
Rogerio Marinho told reporters.
FOLLOWING FATHER'S PATH
Although Bolsonaro has yet to officially concede defeat — saying on Sunday he
would seek the annulment of the result over alleged voter irregularities — his
Liberal Party said on Monday it acknowledged Lula's victory. Eduardo Bolsonaro,
Bolsonaro's younger brother who lives in the United States, said ahead of the
vote that an election loss would require a move. "If my brother does not win,
I'm in favor that he would leave the country," he told podcaster Steven Crowder
this month.
Hegseth Proposes ‘Ambitious’ US-ASEAN Defense Framework at
Philippine Summit
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed the creation of an "ambitious" new
US-ASEAN defense framework on Wednesday, telling the bloc's leaders it could
help them navigate "critically important" years ahead. The United States has
been seeking to boost its regional defense partnerships in recent years, citing
the need to uphold what it terms a "free and open Indo-Pacific" as China has
increasingly flexed its muscles in the region. Hegseth, speaking before a
meeting with defense chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in
Cebu, praised what he called the region's "pragmatism" and "proud nationalism".
"We're not going to agree on everything, nor do we need to," he said, calling
for cooperation where shared interests overlap. "As we look to the future in
this region, I'd like us to be even more ambitious... we propose that we work
together to develop a US-ASEAN Framework for Defense Cooperation," Hegseth said,
without offering details. "A practical framework that guides our cooperation
over the next several years. I will note a critically important next several
years." He added that the United States was ready to begin the project as
Singapore assumes the chairmanship of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus
in the coming year. The grouping includes not only the bloc's 11 member states
but representatives from the United States, Japan, China, Australia and others.
Hegseth also called for the strengthening of "maritime domain awareness" and
advanced cooperation among naval forces. "These are not symbolic things; they
are concrete demonstrations of what serious partners do, serious partners train
together, learn together, plan together, and build the confidence and competence
necessary to prevent conflict," he said. US ally the Philippines has been
engaged in years of confrontations with China over disputed areas of the South
China Sea. China's military and coast guard presence in contested areas of the
critical waterway nearly doubled in September, Manila said this month. Japanese
defense chief Shinjiro Koizumi met Hegseth earlier on the sidelines of the Cebu
event, where they discussed the need to implement "an effective denial defense
in the First Island Chain", a reference to islands that lie between China and
the open Pacific. The two allies also committed to continued "close
coordination" on munitions production.
ISIS Militants Kill at Least 20 Somali Soldiers in Ambush
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Militants killed at least 20 Somali soldiers in an ambush, a military officer
who survived the attack said, as the government acknowledged damage to military
vehicles but disclosed no troop casualties. The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group,
which has fought Somalia’s government for nearly two decades, claimed
responsibility for Monday’s attack near Jameeca village in southern Somalia. The
Defense Ministry said its troops killed about 75 militants and wounded 56 during
hours of fighting. Al-Shabab claimed it killed 321 soldiers and captured
prisoners and military equipment. The casualty figures and claims of captured
soldiers and equipment could not be independently verified. Abshir Abdikarim, a
military officer traveling with the convoy, told The Associated Press by phone
late Tuesday that he saw at least 20 of his fellow soldiers dead after the
attack. He said troops had advanced from Leego into Jameeca, in Burhakaba
district in the Bay region, where they exchanged heavy gunfire with militants.
Some soldiers previously reported missing reached Baledogle on Tuesday, he said,
while others remained unaccounted for. The ministry described the confrontation
as an assault on militant positions. Al-Shabab said its fighters ambushed a
convoy advancing into territory under its control. The ministry said militants
used explosives-laden vehicles to attack army vehicles, damaging some of them.
It did not specify how many were damaged or address the claims that soldiers had
been captured. Al-Shabab said it seized Turkish-supplied armored vehicles, armed
pickup trucks, supply trucks, weapons and ammunition. African Union troops
pushed al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the group adapted through
guerrilla warfare, suicide bombings and targeted assassinations. Somali
authorities have reported territorial gains during a US-backed military
campaign, although access restrictions have made those claims difficult to
verify independently. The militants have retained the ability to operate across
large areas of central and southern Somalia. The fighting comes amid a separate
struggle for control of South West state. Government troops last month clashed
near Baidoa with militias loyal to former regional President Abdiaziz Hassan
Mohamed Laftagareen, who resigned after federal forces seized the city in March.
The Defense Ministry said government forces would continue to target al-Shabab
positions and disrupt efforts by its fighters to regroup.
French Senate Passes Bill to Make Protesters Pay for Unrest
Damage
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
The French parliament's upper house passed a bill Wednesday that would make
protesters financially liable for damage caused during street demonstrations,
despite warnings from critics that it could curb the right to protest. The bill
was drafted in response to riots that followed Paris Saint-Germain's victory
over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final in May. But it has taken on
added significance after weeks of protests over inequality and soaring prices
culminated in some of the worst violence France has seen in years on October 17,
when thousands of businesses across the country were damaged and looted. The
Senate passed an expanded version of the bill by 229 votes to 105, backed by a
right-wing and centrist alliance which holds a majority. The legislation has
been sent to the National Assembly, which is split between France's political
factions, for debate and voting. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whom opinion
polls place as the frontrunner to succeed Emmanuel Macron in next spring's
presidential election, supports the legislation. Speaking in parliament,
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stressed the "urgency" of responding to the
damage and scenes of chaos seen on October 17. "We can no longer allow the vast
majority of our fellow citizens to pay for a minority of vandals," he said.
'Legal travesty' -
Under the legislation, protesters could be ordered to pay up to 10,000 euros for
damage caused during street demonstrations. But critics argue that people who
took no part in vandalism could nonetheless be held liable if they were deemed
to have been associated with those responsible.
The bill introduces joint financial liability for anyone found to have
"knowingly participated" in a group formed with the intent of carrying out acts
of vandalism. It would also apply to individuals who "voluntarily" continued to
take part in a gathering likely to disrupt public order after two police
dispersal warnings. Welfare benefits and housing assistance could also be seized
to help cover the cost of damages under the scheme, a provision that has drawn
sharp criticism from left-wing parties and advocacy groups. In the second
reading, senators toughened the measure to include other social benefits such as
the family supplement, back-to-school allowance and the employment bonus.
Left-wing lawmakers accused the government of an "authoritarian drift" at the
expense of the freedom to demonstrate. Communist senator Fabien Gay denounced
what he called a "legal travesty that deliberately conflates protesters and
rioters". Green senator Melanie Vogel accused the government of responding to
social demands with "collective punishment."Supporters of the bill sought to
reassure critics. "We must not give the impression that this bill would
criminalize a passer-by or a peaceful protester," said Olivier Bitz of the
center-right Horizons party.
'Disastrous consequences' -
The government has proposed introducing protest bans targeting the most violent
individuals.
Late Tuesday, the Senate approved a bill allowing authorities to demand the
rapid removal of social media content calling for "insurrection or taking up
arms against the state". "As we speak, there are calls circulating for next
Saturday that are calls for insurrection. Those are the kinds of content we want
to remove," the interior minister told senators. Platforms would be required to
remove such content within 24 hours, or they could face "blocking" or
"delisting." In an op-ed published in French daily Le Monde last week, a
coalition of trade unions and student groups warned of a "serious infringement
on the freedom to demonstrate." They argued the measures would
disproportionately affect "the poorest families" and encourage "arbitrary police
action."Amnesty International also urged the government to abandon the bill,
warning the measures could push "already marginalized families further into
poverty". "If passed, this bill would be a deeply regressive step," Nathalie
Godard of Amnesty International France said on Monday. "Seizing family
allowances, housing assistance, or the active solidarity income could have
disastrous consequences for some of the most vulnerable people."
Yemen's Houthis attack Aden airport after calling for
immediate evacuation
Agence France Presse/October 28/2026
A missile targeted Yemen's Aden airport for the second time on Wednesday, a
police official told AFP, as the Iran-backed Houthis called for the evacuation
of the facility in the seat of the Saudi-backed government. "A Houthi missile
targeted the area under Saudi forces' control inside the perimeter of Aden
airport," the Aden police official told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss
sensitive topics. Yemen's Houthis called on Wednesday for the immediate
evacuation of the airport in Aden, seat of the Saudi-backed internationally
recognized government, a city that has been targeted several times by the
Iran-backed group in recent weeks. "Our armed forces call on those present at
Aden airport to immediately evacuate due to the presence of a military cargo
plane belonging to the Saudi enemy transporting weapons to kill the sons of the
Yemeni people," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a post on
Telegram.
Houthi media says Saudi strike on petrol station in Yemen
kills 12
Agence France Presse/October 28/2026
Houthi media said a Saudi strike on a petrol station Wednesday killed at least
12 people, the latest casualties since Yemen's conflict reignited this summer.
Broadcaster Al-Masirah TV reported 12 dead and 10 wounded "including women and
children" in a strike blamed on Saudi Arabia that they said hit a petrol station
in the city of Hazm, in the northwestern Jawf province.
Coalition: Air Defenses Intercept, Destroy Houthi Ballistic
Missile Launched Toward Taif
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major
General Turki Al-Malki said that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a
ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia’s
Taif. On Tuesday, the Coalition announced the downing of three ballistic
missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthis towards the Eastern Region. Two
ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and four drones fired at the Southern Region
were also intercepted and destroyed, it added.
Yemen appeals for help for civilians as Houthis tighten the
siege of Taiz
AP/October 28, 2026
TAIZ: Yemeni government officials urged the international community to help
protect civilians and reopen roads into the city of Taiz as Iran-backed Houthis
further tightened their siege of the city. Taiz province has emerged as a major
battlefront in recent weeks, including the city of Taiz — considered a gateway
to the country’s south. It has taken in around half of Yemen’s population
displaced by the latest fighting, straining limited resources. The Taiz
governor, Nabil Shamsan, said residents had lost access to about 3 million
liters (about 793,000 gallons) of water previously available from wells in Wadi
Al-Dhubab, which he said is now under Houthi control. Eshraq Al-Maqtari, a legal
affairs minister in Yemen’s internationally recognized government, said more
than 2,000 projectiles and explosives fired by the Houthis had struck Taiz city
districts in recent days and called for measures to cut off the militia's weapon
supplies and funding. Shamsan said fighting had intensified across the province
as the Houthis deployed reinforcements to multiple fronts, with the city
encircled on all four sides.
Houthi missile targeting Aden airport raises civil aviation safety concerns
Arab News/October 28, 2026
DUBAI: A Houthi missile struck the grounds of Aden airport on Wednesday before
the group called for the facility to be evacuated, a police source told Agence
France-Presse. “A Houthi missile fell within the airport grounds,” the source
said. Yemen’s Transport Ministry condemned what it described as the sixth Houthi
attack on Aden airport in a matter of days, warning that the continued strikes
posed a serious threat to civil aviation safety. The ministry described the
attacks as a dangerous escalation and held the Houthis responsible for their
consequences.
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on October 28-29/2026
Who Verifies Artificial Intelligence?
When AI Learns Jew-Hate
Pierre Rehov/Gatestone Institute/October 28, 2026
Artificial intelligence (AI) is quietly replacing the institutions through which
the West once transmitted knowledge. Students who a generation ago consulted
teachers and libraries now consult with often extremely unreliable chatbots.
After submitting OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini and
Meta's Llama to more than 34,000 queries about Jews, Israel, the Holocaust and
antisemitic tropes, a March 2025 study by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of
the four leading large language models (LLMs) found measurable anti-Jewish and
anti-Israel bias in every model tested.
Whatever humanity has written in sufficient volume, the machine absorbs,
including its pathologies. If enough people write that the Earth is flat, AI
will tell you that the Earth is flat.
The contradictions never matter: the accusations are never sustained by evidence
in the first place. Repetition keeps them alive, and repetition is precisely
what the modern information ecosystem industrializes.
The enormity and volume of that repetition would have been unimaginable to
earlier generations. Iranian state media, Russian influence operations, China's
gargantuan, poisonous TikTok, Hamas media outlets, Holocaust-denial platforms
and legions of anonymous accounts produce a continuous stream of fabrication
surrounding Israel and the Jewish people.
A debunked falsehood does not vanish; it settles into thousands of web pages and
waits there, inside the corpus from which the next generation of AI frontier
models will "learn."
A machine has no concept of propaganda. It recognizes statistical regularities,
and a lie repeated across a sufficient share of its training data acquires the
weight of a fact. An answer about the Arab-Israeli conflict can therefore appear
scrupulously balanced while quietly granting credibility to claims manufactured
by a state disinformation service. What emerges carries the appearance of
judgment but the substance of arithmetic.
[A] parallel ADL investigation... identified at least 30 senior editors at
Wikipedia who coordinated for a decade to reshape entries on Israel and the
Arab-Israeli conflict, stripping citations to peer-reviewed research on
Palestinian terrorism, burying Hamas's designation as a terrorist organization
and recasting Zionism as a colonial land grab, while the Arabic-language edition
of Wikipedia openly glorifies the perpetrators of October 7. Wikipedia's own
arbitration committee has since banned some editors from the entire topic area,
a tacit admission of the manipulation.
The source from which artificial intelligence learns history is resolutely being
rewritten by terror-supporting militants in real time: every model trained
tomorrow will inherit today's falsifications as settled fact.
A joint study by the United Nations and UNESCO found that roughly one-sixth of
Holocaust-related content on major platforms denies or distorts the facts...
AI answers arrive coherent, articulate and serenely assured. Users assume they
have been verified, when even the most advanced systems still hallucinate,
contradict themselves and err on elementary matters of fact. When the subject is
a restaurant or a line of code, the cost is trivial. When it is the Holocaust,
terrorism or the legitimacy of the Jewish state, the error feeds directly into
debates already poisoned by decades of ideological warfare and state-sponsored
propaganda. A society that accepts fiction about the Jews has already most
likely begun accepting fiction about everything. The civilization that taught
machines to diagnose disease and decode ancient languages now carries the
responsibility of ensuring they do not also recycle its oldest lie, its youngest
lie, and the trillions of lies in the middle.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is quietly replacing the institutions through which
the West once transmitted knowledge. Students who a generation ago consulted
teachers and libraries now consult with often extremely unreliable chatbots.
Reportedly 54% of American teenagers already use AI apps such as ChatGPT and its
peers for schoolwork. Journalists, lawyers and civil employees are following the
same path.
This deserves serious attention. After submitting OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's
Claude, Google's Gemini and Meta's Llama to more than 34,000 queries about Jews,
Israel, the Holocaust and antisemitic tropes, a March 2025 study by the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of the four leading large language models (LLMs)
found measurable anti-Jewish and anti-Israel bias in every model tested. One
detail stands out for its clinical precision. Asked whether the American
government orchestrated the attacks of September 11, all four systems dismissed
the alleged conspiracy theory without hesitation, but asked whether "the Jews"
did, all but one wavered. Somewhere in their oceans of training data, the
machines had learned that this particular lie deserved a hearing.
Anyone who understands how these systems are built will find the result
unsurprising. An LLM model investigates nothing and weighs no evidence. It has
digested a corpus larger than any one civilization has ever assembled, drawn
from scientific literature and reference works, but also from the news media,
discussion forums, activist blogs, propaganda outlets and billions of web pages
whose accuracy no engineer can vouch for. Filtering exists, and companies invest
heavily in it, yet no human team can read hundreds of billions of words.
Whatever humanity has written in sufficient volume, the machine absorbs,
including its pathologies. If enough people write that the Earth is flat, AI
will tell you that the Earth is flat.
Antisemitism is a pathology that has survived every century. It moved from the
medieval sermon to the printing press, the pamphlet, newspapers, movies, radio
and television, the internet social media -- recycling in each era familiar
accusations, including that of hidden Jewish "manipulation." During the Black
Death, Jews were accused of poisoning wells; in the twentieth century they
somehow controlled both capitalism and communism at the same time; today they
ostensibly control governments, the media, the banks, Western foreign policy and
even perpetrate massacres against themselves. The contradictions never matter:
the accusations are never sustained by evidence in the first place. Repetition
keeps them alive, and repetition is precisely what the modern information
ecosystem industrializes.
The enormity and volume of that repetition would have been unimaginable to
earlier generations. Iranian state media, Russian influence operations, China's
gargantuan, poisonous TikTok, Hamas media outlets, Holocaust-denial platforms
and legions of anonymous accounts produce a continuous stream of fabrication
surrounding Israel and the Jewish people. Researchers at the Atlantic Council's
Digital Forensic Research Lab have traced how, within hours of the October 7,
2023 massacre, recycled footage, clips lifted from video games and invented
claims flooded the platforms faster than anyone could verify or debunk them.
Exposure changes little. A debunked falsehood does not vanish; it settles into
thousands of web pages and waits there, inside the corpus from which the next
generation of AI frontier models will "learn."
Herein lies the trap. A machine has no concept of propaganda. It recognizes
statistical regularities, and a lie repeated across a sufficient share of its
training data acquires the weight of a fact. An answer about the Arab-Israeli
conflict can therefore appear scrupulously balanced while quietly granting
credibility to claims manufactured by a state disinformation service. What
emerges carries the appearance of judgment but the substance of arithmetic.
The contamination reaches the very source the machines are taught to trust most.
The Wikimedia Foundation itself acknowledges that every LLM is trained on
Wikipedia, almost always the largest source of data, weighted above ordinary
websites despite its massive bias and unreliability (also here, here, here and
here). Where Jews and Israel are concerned, a parallel ADL investigation,
published the same month, identified at least 30 senior editors at Wikipedia who
coordinated for a decade to reshape entries on Israel and the Arab-Israeli
conflict, stripping citations to peer-reviewed research on Palestinian
terrorism, burying Hamas's designation as a terrorist organization and recasting
Zionism as a colonial land grab, while the Arabic-language edition of Wikipedia
openly glorifies the perpetrators of October 7. Wikipedia's own arbitration
committee has since banned some editors from the entire topic area, a tacit
admission of the manipulation.
The source from which artificial intelligence learns history is resolutely being
rewritten by terror-supporting militants in real time: every model trained
tomorrow will inherit today's falsifications as settled fact.
Holocaust memory shows what is at stake. A joint study by the United Nations and
UNESCO found that roughly one-sixth of Holocaust-related content on major
platforms denies or distorts the facts, a share that climbs to nearly half on
largely unmoderated Telegram. The Claims Conference's survey of eight countries
found that 48% of Americans cannot name a single concentration camp or Jewish
ghetto out of the more than 40,000 the Nazis established and that in France, 46%
of adults under the age of 30 were not sure they had ever heard of the
Holocaust.
These are the very cohorts for whom an AI chatbot is becoming the first, and
often the only, source of historical knowledge. A system that hedges where
reputable historians have assembled overwhelming proof, or that presents
Holocaust denial as one perspective among others, delivers manufactured doubt
with the fluency of a train schedule, and in seconds erodes certainties built on
decades of testimony and scholarship.
To this technological weakness must be added a psychological one, which
researchers call automation bias: the human tendency to trust a computer's
conclusion more readily than a colleague's. AI answers arrive coherent,
articulate and serenely assured. Users assume they have been verified, when even
the most advanced systems still hallucinate, contradict themselves and err on
elementary matters of fact. When the subject is a restaurant or a line of code,
the cost is trivial. When it is the Holocaust, terrorism or the legitimacy of
the Jewish state, the error feeds directly into debates already poisoned by
decades of ideological warfare and state-sponsored propaganda.
The tech giants are aware of the problem, and it would be dishonest to pretend
otherwise. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft and SpaceXAI spend
fortunes on safety research, red-teaming and "alignment," and the ADL has
acknowledged real progress over earlier generations of LLMs. Progress, however,
leaves the essential question unanswered: who verifies? As these systems settle
into classrooms, courtrooms, newsrooms and government agencies, independent
audits by historians, specialists in antisemitism and researchers in information
integrity should become as routine as penetration testing in cybersecurity, with
methodologies and results open to public scrutiny. A civilization cannot
outsource its historical memory based on corporate assurances.
Why single out antisemitism when LLMs can and do reproduce many prejudices and
many inaccuracies? History has assigned it a diagnostic function. Anti-Jewish
conspiracy theories have repeatedly served as the early-warning system of a
broader collapse of the evidence on which free societies depend. The
misinformation does stop at the Jews. There have also been acres of
disinformation spreading the charms of socialism, climate change as an
apocalyptic threat, how benign Communist China is, and how irrefutably accurate
the number of eligible voters and ballots are in US elections.
The same intellectual habits that turned Jews into a universal explanation for
every ailment in the world with the possible exception of climate change are
also devouring freedom of expression and the rule of law. A society that accepts
fiction about the Jews has already most likely begun accepting fiction about
everything. Human beings, not their machines, created this hatred; what the
machines transform is its speed, reach and authority. The medieval preacher
poisoned one village at a time, and the 20th-century propagandist needed a
broadcast tower. The 21st-century propagandist needs only a smartphone or a
laptop to reach nations, and a single AI platform answers hundreds of millions
of users in dozens of languages within seconds. At that scale, accuracy stops
being a technical objective and the AI systems can, and probably will, threaten
democratic life.
The civilization that taught machines to diagnose disease and decode ancient
languages now carries the responsibility of ensuring they do not also recycle
its oldest lie, its youngest lie, and the trillions of lies in the middle. Once
distorted versions of Jewish history, the Holocaust and Israel settle into
systems that the public, erroneously or not, believes it can trust, extracting
them will prove immeasurably harder than keeping them out.
Pierre Rehov, who holds a law degree from Paris-Assas, is a French reporter,
novelist and documentary filmmaker. He is the author of six novels, including
"Beyond Red Lines", "The Third Testament" and "Red Eden", translated from
French. His latest essay on the aftermath of the October 7 massacre " 7 octobre
- La riposte " became a bestseller in France. As a filmmaker, he has produced
and directed 17 documentaries, many photographed at high risk in Middle Eastern
war zones, and focusing on terrorism, media bias, and the persecution of
Christians. His latest documentary, "Pogrom(s)" highlights the context of
ancient Jew hatred within Muslim civilization as the main force behind the
October 7 massacre.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved.
Arab Christians: A Partnership in Civilization and Destiny
Emile Ameen/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
The sound of the treacherous gunfire in the Jordanian village of Hamoud Al-Karak
has revived discussion about Arab Christians, their place in the Arab and
Islamic civilizational fabric, and whether they are a foundational component of
that structure, both as people and as builders of institutions, or merely
outsiders who arrived from nowhere. Over the past few days, fellow writers and
colleagues at Asharq Al-Awsat have written extensively about the horrific
incident, condemning it and examining the hatred that fuels extremism. What drew
particular attention, however, were the hateful comments that accompanied the
crime across various social media platforms. While intellectuals and opinion
leaders overwhelmingly denounced what happened, it became clear that those who
seek to spread hostility and division within our societies remain committed to
their message of hatred.
There is no doubt that Arab Christians are an authentic and important part of
the social fabric of our Arab countries. Under no circumstances can their
citizenship or their deep historical roots, firmly embedded in Arab and Islamic
history, be diminished or denied.
Across more than 120 historical references, there are clear accounts of this
Arab Christian contribution and of what Christians brought to Arab and Islamic
civilization. This is especially true of the Syriac Christians, who translated
Greek sciences and philosophy into Arabic, explained and interpreted them, and
later produced original scholarly works based upon them. Significant accounts
can be found in works such as Usud Al-Ghabah fi Ma'rifat Al-Sahabah by Izz
al-Din Ibn al-Athir, Bada'i Al-Zuhur fi Waqa'i Al-Duhur by Muhammad Ibn Iyas,
Al-Nujum Al-Zahirah fi Muluk Misr wa Al-Qahirah by Abu Al-Mahasin Ibn
Taghribirdi, and Tarikh Mukhtasar Al Duwal by Bar Hebraeus, among many others.
The presence of Arab Christians is therefore authentic and deeply rooted in Arab
soil. Evidence of this can be seen in three prominent Christian Arab poets: Quss
bin Sa'idah Al-Iyadi, Bishop of Najran and one of the greatest orators and poets
of pre-Islamic Arabia; Adi bin Zaid, minister to Al-Nu'man, the last Lakhmid
king of Iraq and husband of his daughter Hind; and Uthman bin Al-Huwayrith bin
Asad of the Quraysh tribe. At a later stage, Arab Christians also played a key
role in developing Arabic writing and script, whose origins had previously
remained largely obscure. In his landmark work Al-Mufassal fi Tarikh Al-Arab
Qabl Al-Islam (Detailed History of the Arabs Before Islam), the distinguished
Iraqi historian Professor Jawad Ali explains how Arab Christians played a major
role in the development of Arabic script. He even suggested that future
archaeological discoveries might uncover Nabataean inscriptions buried beneath
the sands of the Arabian Peninsula. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Dominican scholar
Professor Georges Anawati, who spent twenty years researching the life of Ibn
Rushd, argued that the Christians of Al-Hirah were the first to use Arabic
script and introduced new linguistic constructions and expressions into
Arabic.He notes that Quss bin Sa'idah was the first known figure to use the
phrase "أما بعد" ("To proceed"), as well as the legal maxim, "The burden of
proof rests upon the claimant, and the oath upon the denier."
He was also the first to write the formula "From so-and-so to so-and-so."
Likewise, Umayyah ibn Abi Al-Salt is credited with popularizing the opening
phrase "Bismika Allahumma" ("In Your name, O God") in correspondence.
With the emergence of the Arab renaissance and growing aspirations to break free
from Ottoman rule, Arab Christians stood among the earliest advocates of
intellectual and political liberation. Their extensive contacts with Europe,
particularly among Arab Christians of the Levant and especially with France,
played a crucial role in spreading ideas of nationalism and freedom.
In this context emerged prominent writers and poets, both in the Arab world and
the diaspora, including Gibran Khalil Gibran, Elia Abu Madi, and Mikhail Naimy.
Similarly, the call for Arab nationalism in its civilizational and emancipatory
sense, rather than a racial one, was championed by figures such as Adib Ishaq,
Salim Sarkis, Shibli Shumayyil, and Naguib Azoury, among others.Arab Christians
also brought the printing press to the region as an instrument of enlightenment.
In the early years of the second half of the nineteenth century, the Dominican
Fathers established the historic Mosul Press.
This discussion has nothing to do with sectarian power-sharing. It is a
historical reading of a glorious and enduring civilization that embraced all its
human components without exclusion, discrimination, or claims of superiority,
enabling it to rise among the world's most accomplished societies.
Incidents such as the one witnessed in Karak may encourage the emigration of
this vital national community. Should that happen, the Arab social fabric could,
God forbid, come to resemble other forms of sectarian and ethnic fragmentation
that are already visible elsewhere in the region.
Peace to our homelands and our peoples, whether at home or abroad.
The Priorities of Minister Lana Nusseibeh Should She Assume the Duties of UN
Secretary-General
Abdallah Yahya Al-Mouallimi/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Minister Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates' nominee for United Nations
Secretary-General, has a unique opportunity to become one of the most successful
leaders in the organization's history. She blends personal competence and
intellectual capacity with a charismatic presence, in addition to the unlimited
support she is expected to receive from the UAE. This backing could encompass
substantial independent funding for the Secretary-General's office, enabling the
recruitment of top-tier global talent and the commissioning of vital research.
To counter potential allegations of serving as a front for Western interests,
the incoming Secretary-General should avoid a reliance on Western personnel and
analysis, opting instead to engage experts, thinkers, think tanks, and
consultancies from developing nations. Minister Nusseibeh's envisioned success
is attainable if she focuses on securing swift, accessible victories. In my
assessment, these objectives can be consolidated into eight core priorities,
serving as a strategic agenda for her inaugural year in 2027, outlined as
follows:
First: Ending the Yemeni crisis. This crisis has now reached a crossroads: the
warring parties will either head toward a violent, long-term battle of
attrition, or they will acknowledge the futility of this approach, resort to the
path of justice and reason, and accept Saudi Arabia's leadership of this course.
Over decades, the Kingdom has proven that its sole objective in Yemen is to
establish an independent, unified nation that maintains domestic security,
secures its borders, and achieves prosperity for Yemen while providing its
citizens with opportunities for a dignified life and honorable employment in
their country.
This solution must encompass a defined executive program to facilitate Yemen's
integration into the Gulf Cooperation Council within a reasonable timeframe.
Additionally, it should feature a "Marshall Plan" for Yemen's reconstruction,
financed by the GCC states, the United States, the European Union, Japan, South
Korea, ASEAN nations, the United Kingdom, and other international partners.
The solution must also stem the flow of weapons to armed groups lacking national
legitimacy by enforcing a naval, aerial, and land blockade on Yemen. These
measures are not unprecedented, as they align with the provisions outlined in UN
Security Council Resolution 2216 regarding Yemen.
Finally, the solution must include the implementation of a political program
aimed at ensuring the participation of all Yemeni factions in governance, in
accordance with the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and the outcomes of the
Yemeni National Dialogue.
Second: Resolving the Sudanese crisis. Using an approach similar to the
resolution of the Yemeni crisis, an appropriate mechanism can be established to
assign the leadership of the peace process to the Arab League. Efforts should be
directed toward forming a civilian national unity government, alongside the
stepping down of the leaders of the two warring factions from power, paving the
way for free elections under international supervision, and allocating
appropriate financial support for reconstruction and the revitalization of the
national economy.
Third: Ending the war between the US and Iran. This conflict had approached the
threshold of a peaceful resolution, culminating in the signing of a memorandum
of understanding between the two nations before the crisis reverted to the brink
of escalation. The parameters of the solution remain recognized and mutually
agreed upon, centered on preventing Iran from manufacturing nuclear weapons,
preserving freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf, and halting support for
unlawful armed groups in the region. The UN has abandoned its mediation role in
the Iranian crisis, among other global conflicts, leaving the international body
devoid of an effective presence. The time has come for the new leadership in New
York to assert a vital, active role, with the incoming Secretary-General
personally engaging in all global crises.Fourth: Ending the Cypriot crisis. This
is also a crisis that appears to have reached the brink of a resolution, and the
new Secretary-General could help facilitate an appropriate solution. Fifth: The
Lebanon-Israel crisis. Here, too, the new Secretary-General could leverage the
UAE-Israel rapprochement and American influence to reach an agreement leading to
an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and the restoration of the Lebanese
government's control over its entire territory, including the Shebaa Farms. The
same applies to the Syrian territories where Israel expanded its occupation
following the collapse of the Assad regime.
Resolving these crises would grant the incoming Secretary-General a historic
launchpad, potentially positioning her to deservedly win the Nobel Peace Prize
next year. Furthermore, it would create an opportunity to craft an ambitious
agenda to confront the deep-seated crises in Palestine, Ukraine, the Congo, and
Myanmar in 2028.Attention must also turn to the issue of institutional reform in
the UN beyond the mere repetition of superficial slogans. Among the measures
that can be implemented toward this objective:
First: Reducing peacekeeping operations expenditures. This would be achieved by
conducting a comprehensive review of peacekeeping missions, leading to a 50
percent reduction in both personnel numbers and the scope of operations. These
would be replaced by a rapid deployment force consisting of 50,000 troops under
the direct command of the UN leader. The Secretary-General would hold the
authority to deploy these forces, or a portion thereof, for a duration of six
months prior to obtaining an authorizing resolution from the Security Council.
Second: Abolishing the Economic and Social Council and transferring its
functions to the Second and Third Committees of the General Assembly. Third:
Abolishing the Trusteeship Council and transferring its functions to the Fourth
and Sixth Committees. These are brief proposals that I hope will assist my
friend, Minister Lana Nusseibeh, as she navigates the electoral phase, which I
believe has reached a critical juncture and could conclude within the coming
days.
We and the Global Economic War
Abdulaziz Mohammed Alajlan/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 28/2026
Today, we are living through a pivotal transitional period in which the world is
shifting from a unipolar system to a multipolar one, marked by intertwined
interests and intensifying rivalries. What we are witnessing is not a world war
in its traditional form. No major power blocs have declared general
mobilization, yet the confrontation is real, and its most prominent weapons are
economics and technology.
During the First and Second World Wars, economies supported armies through
financing and armament. Today, however, the economy itself has become a weapon
through which battles are fought, alongside technological advances that have
reshaped the sources of power.
Airports, roads, hospitals, and banks are no longer merely conventional
infrastructure. They are increasingly connected to digital systems that rely
heavily on artificial intelligence. Competition over this technology is
therefore competition over the management of economies, infrastructure, and
weapons systems, and perhaps, in the future, over the ability to infiltrate and
control them. This is why the remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping
during his meeting with US President Donald Trump regarding the need to manage
competition in artificial intelligence are so important. They reflect an effort
to contain a new weapon that is developing at remarkable speed. I would not be
exaggerating if I called AI the new nuclear technology.
Hence the importance of managing this competition much as the United States and
the Soviet Union sought to manage nuclear arms during the Cold War. China has
its own AI model, and the US has another. Europe, meanwhile, is striving to
build technological independence that reduces its dependence on both. This
ambition was articulated by French President Emmanuel Macron from the podium of
the United Nations, where he warned against allowing the two powers to
monopolize a technology that will help shape the future of the world. Other
countries will find themselves facing several options: align with one of these
models, combine elements of both, or develop their own national capabilities,
however limited, to safeguard their sovereignty. Industrial and technological
advances, coupled with the growing interconnectedness of economies, have
transformed the nature of warfare. As proxy conflicts continue, some analysts
fear that the world could slide into a broader war sparked by a miscalculation
that spirals out of control.
I believe, however, that a new Cold War, characterized by technological rivalry
and economic attrition, is more likely than a full-scale military confrontation.
When comparing China and the US, we should not ask only who is stronger today.
We should also ask who is growing faster and who is better positioned to
increase its strength in the future. The US remains the dominant power at
present. Yet China, in my view, is advancing at a faster pace in both economics
and technology. Given what I see as structural weaknesses in Western economies
and in capitalist and democratic systems whose shortcomings appear to widen over
time, China seems well positioned to strengthen its standing further.
The rise and decline of nations do not occur overnight. They happen gradually,
like the transition between night and day, an idea I draw from Ibn Khaldun’s
Muqaddimah. This transformation may take years, but in my estimation, it is not
a distant prospect.
Where Do We Stand?
At this point, I am reassured by a technological thread that suggests my country
is moving with a smart compass, one that is attuned to the changes and
disruptions of our era. That confidence was strengthened by Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman’s declaration that 2026 would be the Year of Artificial
Intelligence. Such a declaration reflects a clear understanding of the role
technology plays in building national power and managing the conflicts of the
future. Saudi Arabia derives its strength first from God Almighty, and then from
an economy and wealth that provide a golden opportunity, one that must be seized
without complacency. In this context, efforts to reduce waste, lessen dependence
on the state, and encourage citizens to move from consumption to production are
both timely and necessary. In my view, these measures and financial reforms have
enhanced our ability to withstand crises, including potential disruptions in oil
supplies, while strengthening the resilience of the economy against volatility.
The combination of technological awareness, economic reform, and a productive
citizenry gives us reason to be confident that the Kingdom will, God willing,
overcome periods of uncertainty, secure a leading position among nations, and
play an active role in shaping the emerging global order rather than merely
reacting to it. May God protect our nation and its leadership from all harm.
Jordan’s Crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood Is Far From
Over
Ahmad Sharawi/FDD- Policy Brief/October 28/2026
Jordanian authorities are tightening the screws on the country’s branch of the
Muslim Brotherhood (MB), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
On October 25, a Jordanian court sentenced seven Brotherhood leaders and members
to prison terms ranging from six months to three years in a case involving
illegal fundraising and money laundering. Among those convicted was the
Brotherhood’s former leader, Murad al-Adaileh, who received a six-month sentence
for illegally collecting donations. Five others, including the group’s financial
chief, Ahmad al-Zarqan, received three-year sentences for violating laws against
money laundering and illegally collecting donations. The convictions mark the
latest development in Amman’s crackdown on the Brotherhood, which intensified
after authorities uncovered a plot in April 2025 involving the manufacture of
rockets and drones and the recruitment of operatives to carry out attacks inside
Jordan. The government later began to enforce a ban on the organization that had
been on the books since a 2020 court ruling dissolved it. The convictions and
investigations represent important steps in dismantling the Brotherhood’s
operations in Jordan. However, the Brotherhood’s influence extends beyond these
networks, with elements of its political infrastructure and affiliated charities
remaining active in Jordan.
The Jordanian Brotherhood’s Illicit Financial Networks
The court ruling followed an investigation that revealed that the Jordanian
Muslim Brotherhood had collected more than $40 million through donations,
investments, and other activities, including fundraising ostensibly to support
Palestinians in Gaza. According to Jordanian authorities, only about 1 percent
of the funds went to humanitarian causes. Investigators alleged the money also
financed political and electoral campaigns, paid affiliated politicians, and
bought properties abroad. The Brotherhood’s financial connections had extended
beyond Jordan through international charitable networks associated with Hamas.
The Green Crescent Charity — one of the organizations Jordanian prosecutors
referred to in July 2025, and which remains active — was cofounded by senior
Brotherhood figures with past ties to U.S.-sanctioned organizations. Among them
was former parliamentarian Saud Abu Mahfouz, who served on the board of the Al-Quds
International Foundation, an organization designated by Treasury for acting on
behalf of Hamas. Another founder Saad al-Din-al-Zamili, was identified in a 2009
investigation as a trustee of the Union of Good, an international charitable
coalition sanctioned by Washington for facilitating money transfers to
Hamas-controlled organizations. Wael al-Saqa, the former leader of the Islamic
Action Front, the MB’s political wing, later rebranded as the Ummah Party,
previously headed the Arab International Commission for Reconstruction in Gaza
according to a report. The commission’s board included Osama al-Issawi, a former
minister in Hamas’ Gaza government who also helped establish an Italy-based
charity subsequently sanctioned by the United States.
Elements of the Brotherhood’s Political Infrastructure Remain Active
Despite the ban, the Brotherhood’s political infrastructure continues to operate
in Jordan. Its political wing, rebranded as the Ummah Party, remains legally
registered. Yet the name change has done little to separate the party’s
leadership from the banned organization. In September, the party elected Muath
al-Khawaldeh, a longtime Brotherhood spokesperson and former executive council
member, as its secretary-general. That same month, the party elected several
Brotherhood officials to its Shura Council, including former Brotherhood Shura
Council chairman Hamza Mansour, former deputy leader Jamil Abu Baker, executive
council member Mustafa Saqer, and Aref Hamdan, who is one of the five
Brotherhood figures sentenced to three years in prison on October 25. U.S.
Should Investigate the Brotherhood’s Affiliated Organizations and Financial
Facilitators
Washington should continue investigating the relationships between the Jordanian
Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliated organizations to determine whether
operational or financial ties persist, as well as whether these entities act on
the Brotherhood’s behalf. Several charitable organizations with historic ties to
Hamas, such as Green Crescent, remain undesignated by the U.S. Treasury and
warrant further scrutiny. In that light, the U.S. should probe the relationship
between the Ummah Party and the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, examining whether
individuals hold positions in both organizations, whether Brotherhood officials
direct or influence the party’s decisions, and whether party funds are used to
provide material support to the designated Brotherhood organization. * Ahmad
Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE.
Follow FDD on X @FDD. Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. FDD is a Washington,
DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and
foreign policy.
Tehran’s jihadi threat has only been growing since
Clifford D. May/The Washington Times/October 28/2026
At a rally in Michigan last Saturday for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, former
President Barack Obama called the conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran “an
unnecessary war.”
He apparently dates hostilities as starting this year on Feb. 28, or, at the
earliest, last June. He’s off by nearly 47 years. This war began on Nov. 4,
1979, when Islamic militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held 52
Americans hostage for 444 days.
The leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran made their war aims plain. Their
1979 constitution gives the army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps the
“ideological mission of jihad in God’s way,” which it defines as “extending the
sovereignty of God’s law throughout the world.”
Three years ago next week, then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized to his
followers in a televised address: “When you chant ‘Death to America!’ it is not
just a slogan – it is a policy.”By June 2025, the regime was dangerously close
to acquiring nuclear weapons – within six months with near certainty according
to the Institute for Science and International Security. That’s when Israel and
the U.S. struck the regime’s nuclear and missile sites and its war-industrial
complex in what became known as the 12-Day War.
Despite the beating, Mr. Khamenei’s revolutionary ardor remained firm. On Feb.
28, the start of what became known as the 40-Day War, massive joint U.S.-Israeli
strikes killed him at his compound in Tehran. The Institute reports that among
the weapons-related sites hit was the Lavisan 2/Mojdeh complex the regime had
begun rebuilding after the 12-Day War.The day after Mr. Khamenei’s death, Mr.
El-Sayed, the candidate Mr. Obama rallied for in Michigan, told campaign staff,
according to leaked audio: “There are a lot of people in Dearborn who are sad
today.”
Nearly eight months on, Mr. Obama asks: “How’s that war going?” The Institute
believes the two rounds of strikes left Tehran facing a much more difficult path
to obtaining a nuclear bomb: nine months, a year or even two, with success far
less certain.
Nevertheless, those now ruling Iran have demonstrated no inclination to make
peace – or even meaningful concessions. And satellite imagery from September and
October, the Institute reports, shows the regime rapidly rebuilding a site at
Parchin – linked to nuclear-weapons development and destroyed in March – and
renewing activity at another site outside Tehran.
Iran’s current rulers have attacked U.S. military bases in the region, launched
drone and missile strikes at their Arab neighbors, and escalated attacks on
commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz to a record 28 this month,
according to a Washington Institute tally.
They’re assisting the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are determined to control the
Bab al Mandab chokepoint and this month hit Riyadh’s airport with a missile,
killing a dozen people, including at least one American.
At present, the war is being fought mainly at sea and in energy markets. A U.S.
naval blockade has choked the regime’s oil exports, and Treasury Secretary Scott
Bessent says it now has negative cash flow. Americans are paying a price too:
gasoline averages $4.29 a gallon, up from under $3 before the war, though down
from this year’s peak and well below the 2022 record.
We don’t know when the war will end. Nor can we predict with assurance who will
win it. On both questions, as they say, the enemy gets a vote. And remember:
Tehran is receiving military, economic, and diplomatic support from Moscow,
Beijing, and Pyongyang.
Which brings me to my main point: As difficult as this fight is now, it would
have become much tougher had President Trump decided to let the threat grow – to
leave it to a future occupant of the White House to deal with. That’s what Mr.
Trump’s predecessors did for nearly half a century, answering provocations with
limited strikes, sanctions, or deals, even after Tehran-backed militants killed,
according to the Pentagon, at least 603 American troops in Iraq. Mr. Obama says:
“I didn’t have to fire a missile. I engaged in diplomacy.” But his diplomacy
culminated in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which gave
Mr. Khamenei billions of dollars in exchange for a promise to slow-walk his
nuclear weapons program – a promise that inspectors, barred from military sites,
could not fully verify.
Key limitations were to “sunset” in stages through 2030, putting Tehran within a
short sprint of full membership in the nuclear weapons club – all within the
rules.
Under the JCPOA, Tehran also could have built an industrial-scale
missile-and-drone arsenal – more than could be knocked out with the relatively
small cache of multi-million-dollar interceptors the U.S. and its allies rely
on. The regime was not prevented or even seriously discouraged from distributing
funds and weapons to its terrorist proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and
other countries. Mr. Obama says Iran “now has veto power over the Strait of
Hormuz.” It can certainly disrupt shipping there, as recent attacks show. But
that is a preview, not the worst case. A nuclear-armed Islamic Republic with a
missile-and-drone strategic shield could transform that waterway into a private
lake once and for all. At that point, wouldn’t the oil-rich Sunni Arab Gulf
states have to sever ties with the U.S. and kowtow to Tehran? Mr. Obama calls
this war unnecessary. Others call it a “war of choice.” But the alternative
would have been a later “war of necessity” – a war with our backs to the wall.
The threat from Tehran has always been a cancer. Choosing inaction would have
allowed the threat to metastasize, making the ultimate cure far more difficult,
painful, and costly for a future administration – and perhaps not possible at
all. Clifford D. May is founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD), a columnist for The Washington Times, and host of the
“Foreign Podicy” podcast.
Hezbollah Explosives Debunk Lebanon’s Sovereignty Myth
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is Beirut/October 28/2026
In reality, the state fears Hezbollah, abides by its diktats, and actively
dismantles its own rule of law to accommodate the Iranian proxy.
The Republic of Lebanon operates under a dangerous illusion of authority. In
reality, the state fears Hezbollah, abides by its diktats, and actively
dismantles its own rule of law to accommodate the Iranian proxy. Look no further
than the government’s failure to refer the case of the massive shipment of
Hezbollah explosives seized en route to Beirut to the Judicial Council. The
cabinet’s capitulation on this dangerous incident is so flagrant that Hezbollah
publicly “welcomed” it. This latest crisis began with a routine checkpoint stop
in the mountain town of Dahr al-Baydar. Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces
stopped two Hezbollah operatives driving a truck loaded with 500 kilograms of
military-grade C-4 and TNT. Rather than distance itself from the shipment,
Hezbollah lawmakers publicly claimed the explosives and demanded their immediate
return. Hezbollah’s brazen demand directly violates Lebanese law. The cabinet
voted repeatedly — on August 5 and 7, 2025, and again on March 2, 2026 — to
disarm and disband the militia. Any military-grade weapons in Hezbollah’s
possession are contraband, plain and simple.Instead of enforcing the law, state
officials opted for deliberate inaction. Under interrogation, the arrested
Hezbollah operatives admitted that a man known as “Hajj Sajjed” had given them
the explosives to deliver to “Hajj Zolfikar” in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The
judiciary issued arrest warrants for the individuals behind these aliases, but
the investigation stalled under the convenient pretext that investigators could
not identify the men behind the pseudonyms.
The state’s feigned ignorance is a farce. Every Lebanese citizen knows who the
Hezbollah commanders behind the seized explosives are. “Hajj Sajjed” is Hussain
al-Abdullah, who succeeded Wafiq Safa as Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination
official with the Lebanese state. “Hajj Zolfikar,” meanwhile, is his deputy, Ali
Ayoub. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, meanwhile, escalated the rhetoric,
warning that referring the case to the Judicial Council could alone ignite a
civil war.
Lebanon’s paralysis is driven by fear. Hezbollah mouthpiece Al-Akhbar implicitly
threatened senior officials, accusing them of directing the judiciary to issue
arrest warrants for the two commanders. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri,
meanwhile, escalated the rhetoric, warning that referring the case to the
Judicial Council could alone ignite a civil war. Confronted with these threats,
the cabinet retreated into inaction, prompting Lebanese Forces ministers to walk
out in protest. As if the Hezbollah explosives scandal had not done enough
damage to the state’s credibility, a second scandal in the Christian
neighborhood of Fanar exposed the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to outright
mockery. Local residents discovered two workers digging a tunnel five meters
deep and eight meters long in a nearby forest. The municipal police arrested the
men and transferred them to LAF custody. The military intelligence branch
promptly released them, issuing a laughable public statement claiming the men
were simply “digging for gold.” The absurd cover story turned the nation’s
premier defense institution into the butt of national jokes. Lebanese officials
no longer bother to hide their impotence. At a recent cabinet meeting, a senior
figure voiced fears that the region could plunge into a wider war involving Iran
and warned “all Lebanese parties” against getting involved. This was a desperate
plea for Hezbollah not to once again drag Lebanon into a devastating conflict
with Israel on Tehran’s behalf. This warning shatters the government’s official
narrative, exposing its failure to disarm Hezbollah, restrict its military
capabilities, or assert the state’s monopoly over the sovereign decisions of war
and peace. Beirut has turned evasion into an art form. If the government lacks
the courage to bring Hezbollah before a court, it will never order the LAF to
disarm the militia. Lebanon’s executive branch enjoys all the luxurious
trappings of power without exercising an ounce of it. Lebanon’s systemic failure
carries devastating diplomatic consequences. The next time Lebanese officials
meet with American diplomats or members of Congress, they will undoubtedly stick
to their tired script. They will demand that Washington pressure Israel to
uphold the Trilateral Framework, which requires Israeli territorial concessions
in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Beirut constantly blames Israel for
stalled diplomacy while pretending that Lebanon has fulfilled its own
obligations. The explosives seized in Dahr al-Baydar and the tunnel in Fanar
tell a different story. Lebanon is defaulting on its core international
promises. It cannot hide its structural cowardice behind a shield of anti-Israel
rhetoric. Until Beirut confronts the militia holding it hostage, Lebanese
sovereignty will remain a tragic joke.
**Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense
of Democracies and a columnist focusing on Lebanon and broader Arab affairs.
Selected Face Book & X tweets
on October 28/2026
Who won Israel’s election?
77.7% of Israelis came out to vote, nearly 5.7 million people, the largest voter
turnout in Israel’s history. The initial results show three main blocs in the
Israeli electorate.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc looks like it’s only going to get about 50 seats, down
from 68 in this current government. That’s a major loss for the Netanyahu
bloc.Gadi Eisenkot and the opposition bloc look like they won the most seats at
around 53 mandates. And the Arab parties are at around 17, their highest level
ever.These numbers aren’t final, but at this point, none of these blocs have a
clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a government. Israeli President Isaac
Herzog will get the official results in about a week. A few days later, he gives
one candidate the mandate to form a government. If a government isn’t formed,
Netanyahu will remain in power, and the country will possibly go back to another
election to try and break the stalemate. Stay tuned and keep following.
Nadim Koteich
The best ticket for Israel right now is @netanyahu + @naftalibennett. Bennett
needs to drop some of the harder promises, play it as a mature ego and natural
leader, and take the shot. That’s the path that makes him the clear future of
Likud after Netanyahu and the one that actually serves the region, peace,
pragmatism, and security at the same time.
Ami Dar/@AmiDar
Through their massive vote in yesterday’s election, the Arab/Palestinian
citizens of Israel have made it clear that they want to participate fully, as
equals, in shaping this country’s future. Not taking this historic opportunity
to work with them would be cowardly, racist, and
Israel-Alma/@Israel_Alma_org
Turkey’s Force Buildup for the Syrian Navy
On October 23, 2026, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced a force buildup
program to develop Syria’s naval forces. Following meetings between commanders
and ship visits, cooperation is now taking on a broad force buildup framework
encompassing vessel maintenance, repair and upgrades, the construction of new
vessels, personnel training, and the development of port infrastructure. This
represents another layer of Turkish influence and involvement in Syria’s
military force buildup.
A delegation of senior Turkish Navy officials and representatives of ASFAT, a
company subordinate to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, visited Latakia and
conducted technical assessments to advance the Syrian Navy’s capabilities. The
delegation included Istanbul Naval Shipyard Commander Erdinç Yetkin, Turkish
Navy Logistics Chief Timur Yılmaz, and Turkish Navy Training and Education
Commander Yücel Darcan. Following the visit, a force buildup program was
formulated covering the areas outlined above.
The latest move reflects the deepening of maritime cooperation that began in
2025. In September 2025, reports described a Syrian Navy delegation’s visit to
Turkey and a meeting with the Turkish Navy commander to discuss the development
of long-term mechanisms for coordination and cooperation in maritime defense.
The Syrian delegation visited the Turkish Fleet headquarters in Kocaeli province
and toured the frigate TCG KEMALREIS.
Visits by Turkish naval vessels to Syria have also been documented. The Turkish
warship TCG Meltem visited the port of Latakia on May 11. The visit was
presented as an expression of Turkey’s growing military presence in Syria and
the deepening security ties between the two countries. On July 13, it was
reported that the Turkish warship TCG Istanbul had docked in Latakia after its
visit had been postponed by several weeks.
Syria’s reliance on Turkey for maintenance, training, upgrades, and construction
will strengthen Turkish influence over the Syrian Navy’s professional priorities
and operational practices, while increasing Syrian dependence on Turkey. The
participation of ASFAT representatives also adds an industrial dimension: a link
between Syria’s reconstruction needs and Turkey’s defense industries.
Mario Nawfal
Israel's election has produced a HUNG KNESSET, and neither Netanyahu nor
Eisenkot can govern alone. With 100% of regular ballots counted, Netanyahu's
bloc stands at 53 seats, while Eisenkot's opposition bloc has 48, both short of
the 61 needed for a majority.
The Arab parties now hold a potentially decisive 19 seats: the Joint List with
12 and Ra'am with 7.
One major piece remains: roughly 600,000 double-envelope ballots still need to
be counted, with final results expected tomorrow. For now, neither Netanyahu nor
Eisenkot has a majority, putting the Arab parties at the center of the battle to
form Israel's next government.
Source: bintjbeilnews, wfwitness (TG) / Writer: Samuel
Elissa el Hachem
Lebanon has no vote in Israel’s election. Yet half the country is voting in it
on social media.
Rooting against Netanyahu is easy. Now read who Eisenkot is: the author of the
Dahiyeh doctrine.
Whoever wins, the post-Oct 7 doctrine stays. The only question is what Beirut
does with its time.
#Lebanon #Israel #IsraelElections #Hezbollah #Eisenkot #Netanyahu #MiddleEast
Read my full op-ed on Now Lebanon (link ).
https://nowlebanon.com/lebanon-does-not-have-a-vote-in-israels-election-so-why-is-it-acting-like-it-does/
Shadi khalloul שאדי ח'לול
The elections are over. I call upon my sane Jewish brothers and sisters to form
a unity government and leave the extremists out. The extremists in the Arab
parties caused the rise of extremists like Ben Gvir and Smotrich, and they are
the ones who caused the resurgence of the Arab parties' power. A unity
government led by Netanyahu, who received the largest number of mandates, is an
existential necessity. That's how the people voted. Stop fighting, otherwise
what happened to the Maronites in Lebanon will happen to you—the militia they
formed to protect their existence that slowly vanished. Preserve a Jewish and
democratic Israel.
Yousef Jabareen
We are ready and prepared to pave the way for the ousting of the Netanyahu
government. Against a government of bloodshed, against a politics of supremacy,
racism, and exclusion, we offer a completely different alternative. The change
comes through Jewish-Arab partnership, a true and equal partnership. No less
than that, and no more than that.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
2,700 non-Jewish Lebanese nationals who fought for Israel, pledged allegiance to
the state, and were naturalized, were eligible to run today for the office of
prime minister of Israel and vote in the Israeli election. If this is not
apartheid, what is?