English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For October 31/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.october31.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
The stone that the builders rejected has
become the cornerstone
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
21/33-46/:"‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a
vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a
watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the
harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce.
But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned
another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them
in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, "They will respect my
son." But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, "This is the
heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance." So they seized him, threw
him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard
comes, what will he do to those tenants?’They said to him, ‘He will put those
wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will
give him the produce at the harvest time.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never
read in the scriptures: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the
cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes"?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given
to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this
stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’ When
the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he
was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds,
because they regarded him as a prophet..
Titles For The English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related
News & Editorials published on October 30-31/2026
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
Powerful Explosion in Khiam; Sweeping Operations and Arson of Homes in Al-Qantara
Hezbollah Criticizes Prosecution in Explosives Case: They Deserve Commendation,
Not Trial
Charges Filed Against 13 Hezbollah Members in Dahr el-Baidar Explosives Case
Following his arrest, the killer of Father Samir Daou reenacts his crime at the
victim’s home in Ain Jrein.
Lebanese Judiciary Accuses Hezbollah Members of "Assaulting State Security"...
Indictments Issued Against 13 Individuals Following Seizure of Explosives
Shipment
Israeli forces shell, detonate, and burn houses in South Lebanon
ISF arrests suspect in murder of Jbeil district priest
Lebanese Forces Boycott Cabinet Meeting Over Hezbollah Explosives Case
Senior political source lashes out at Qassem over latest statement
Amal and Hezbollah face growing strain over war concerns, report says
Jumblat offered to help Aoun find alternative negotiation path, Abu Faour
reveals
Sami Gemayel urges Aoun, Salam not to yield to blackmail over Hezbollah
explosives
PM Salam: Addressing the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon requires a
new approach
Health Ministry issues warning after suspected trichinellosis cases reported in
Lebanon
Lebanon updates fuel prices
AMCD Condemns Massacre at Greek Orthodox Church in Jordan
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on October 30-31/2026
Qatari Delegation in Tehran for Talks
UKMTO: Tanker in Strait of Hormuz Hit by Explosives Attached to Small Boat
Rubio Hosts G20 Ministers as Iran, Ukraine Wars Divide Members
Netanyahu bloc finishes in lead but no majority: Official results
Difficult Negotiations Lie Ahead in Israel After Netanyahu’s Bloc Lost Its
Parliamentary Majority
Report: Iran’s Hidden Web of Military Agencies Is Slipping Hardware Past the US
Blockade
For Palestinian Citizens of Israel, a Historic Vote Borne of Fear and
Frustration
Coalition Intercepts Houthi Drone over Makkah Region
Egypt Keeps Communication Channels Open Over Mediterranean Maritime Disputes
Türkiye, Egypt to Hold Naval Drills Amid Eastern Mediterranean Tensions
Thousands of Students, Workers Protest in Italy Under Heavy Security
Zelensky to visit Turkey on Saturday for talks with Erdogan: Turkish presidency
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on October 30-31/2026
Believe Me, She's Making Her Way/Samir Atallah/Asharq Al-Awsat/October
30/2026
Iran: Bitter-Enders and Hole-Diggers/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
The Karak Tragedy and the Question of Immunity in Religion/Radwan al-Sayyed/Asharq
Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Why Does Extremist Thought Not Die?/Dr. Amal Moussa/Asharq Al-Awsat/October
30/2026
Between the Mosque and the Shrine: Reconciliation in Post-Baath Iraq and
Syria/Mustafa Fahs/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 30-31/2026 (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
Powerful Explosion in Khiam; Sweeping Operations and
Arson of Homes in Al-Qantara
Al-Markaziya / October 30, 2026
This evening, the Israeli army targeted the outskirts of the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya
with artillery fire. It also carried out a massive explosion in the town of
Khiam—specifically in the "Al-Filal" (Villas) area—and shelled the town of Al-Mansouri
from its artillery positions. Reports indicated an Israeli-led explosion on the
outskirts of the town of Talousa, in the Marjeyoun District, coinciding with
sweeping operations by Israeli forces in the town of Beit Yahoun. Earlier this
afternoon, the Israeli army conducted a demolition operation in the town of Al-Tiri,
in the Bint Jbeil District. Simultaneously, its artillery shelled Wadi al-Hujair—near
the town of Tulin—with 155mm shells. Artillery fire also struck the vicinity of
the town of Kfar Chouba, in the Arqoub region, as well as the outskirts of the
town of Hadatha, in the Bint Jbeil District. Furthermore, the Israeli army blew
up a house belonging to a resident named Hassan Nab'a—from the town of Kfar
Chouba—located on the road between Kfar Chouba, Tallet Sadana, and Shebaa,
destroying its contents. Israeli forces also conducted extensive sweeping
operations using machine-gun fire in the towns of Khiam and Al-Qantara. In Al-Qantara,
Israeli forces set fire to several homes while simultaneously carrying out these
sweeping operations. Earlier this morning, reports indicated that two
interceptor missiles detonated in the skies over the towns of Al-Taybeh and Deir
Siryan, while the Israeli army fired mortar shells toward the town of Al-Mansouri.
At dawn, Israeli artillery targeted the towns of Al-Mansouri and Kfar Tibnit, as
well as Wadi Zibqin.
Hezbollah Criticizes Prosecution in Explosives Case: They Deserve Commendation,
Not Trial
Nidaa Al-Watan / October 30, 2026
Hussein Hajj Hassan, a member of the "Loyalty to the Resistance" parliamentary
bloc, has sharply criticized a decision issued by the Government Commissioner to
the Military Court against several Lebanese citizens. He argued that the
decision "lacks the most basic principles of the National Pact, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Charter, and various Lebanese laws"—all of
which, he asserted, guarantee the legitimate right to resist occupation. In a
statement, Hajj Hassan emphasized that those detained and the other defendants
"were fulfilling a national duty to defend their country, uphold state
sovereignty, and protect the Lebanese people." He maintained that they deserve
to be honored rather than put on trial, and he rejected the accusations—which he
labeled "false"—that originated from parties both within and outside the
government. He further argued that the invocation of certain articles of the
Penal Code in the decision is inconsistent with the nature of the mission the
defendants were undertaking, noting that the case has been accompanied by what
he described as "politically motivated targeting, both domestically and
internationally." Hajj Hassan characterized the charges as "unfair and unjust,"
asserting that the reasoning behind them is "driven by well-known political
dictates." He stressed that the defendants "were in no way undermining the
security or integrity of the state"; rather, he stated, they were confronting
Israel—an entity he accused of threatening Lebanon’s very existence through its
continued occupation, as well as the assassinations, bombings, and destruction
it carries out against Lebanon and its people.
Charges Filed Against 13 Hezbollah Members in Dahr el-Baidar
Explosives Case
Al-Markaziya / October 30, 2026
The Government Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Claude Ghanem, has
filed charges against eight individuals affiliated with Hezbollah in connection
with the transport of a truckload of explosives that was intercepted at the Dahr
el-Baidar checkpoint. The eight defendants are all identified by name: Haitham
Amhaz, Ali al-Kurdi, Ibrahim Habib (known by the alias "Sajid"), Bilal Sabouri
(known by the alias "Zulfiqar"), Mohammad Ayoub, Mohammad Zeaiter (who was in
the vehicle accompanying the car of Amhaz and al-Kurdi), Mohammad Hazeima (the
owner of the vehicle), and Yirina Krishinova (Amhaz’s wife). Charges were also
brought against five other individuals affiliated with Hezbollah, who are known
only by their aliases; their full names have not yet been disclosed. The charges
against them include "crimes of assaulting the internal security of the state,
committing acts that violate state law, defying government directives,
possessing weapons and explosives, and forming illicit organizations aimed at
undermining the authority and prestige of the state." The offenses for which
they are charged carry a potential penalty of up to ten years of hard labor.
Following his arrest, the killer of Father Samir Daou reenacts his crime at the
victim’s home in Ain Jrein.
Al-Markaziya / October 30, 2026
Arkan al-Naddaf, a Syrian national and the killer of Father Samir Daou,
reenacted his crime at the victim’s residence in the town of Ain Jrein. The
reenactment took place in the presence of Public Prosecutor Bilal Badr, the
Jbeil Internal Security Forces (ISF) precinct commander, Lieutenant Colonel
Antonio Yammine, and representatives from various security agencies. The
Internal Security Forces had previously announced the arrest of the suspect in
the murder of Father Daou in Jbeil, noting that investigations remain ongoing
under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities to uncover the full
circumstances of the crime. According to information from the MTV website, the
suspect in the murder of Father Samir Daou is identified as Arkan al-Naddaf,
born in 2004 and a native of the Aleppo Governorate. Syrian.
Lebanese Judiciary Accuses Hezbollah Members of "Assaulting
State Security"... Indictments Issued Against 13 Individuals Following Seizure
of Explosives Shipment
Beirut: Youssef Diab/Asharq Al-Awsat / October 30, 2026
The case of the truckload of explosives seized at the Dahr al-Baidar checkpoint
in Lebanon’s Bekaa region has taken a significant judicial turn. The Government
Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Claude Ghanem, has filed charges
against thirteen individuals affiliated with Hezbollah. The accusations extend
beyond the mere possession of weapons and explosives to include "assaulting the
internal security of the State and undermining its authority and prestige."
Judge Ghanem has referred the case to the First Military Investigative Judge,
Ghada Abu Alwan, to conduct further investigations and issue the necessary
arrest warrants.
Eight Identified by Name, Five Known Only by Aliases
A judicial source informed *Asharq Al-Awsat* that the charges include eight
individuals identified by name: Haitham Amhaz and Ali al-Kurdi—both of whom were
in the vehicle transporting the explosives—as well as Ibrahim Hussein (known by
the alias "Sajid"), Bilal al-Sabouri (known by the alias "Zulfiqar"), Mohammad
Ayoub, Mohammad Zeaiter, Mohammad Hazimeh (the owner of the truck used to
transport the explosives), and Perina Krishiona, the wife of Amhaz.
Additionally, charges were filed against five other individuals whose full
identities remain unknown, as they are identified only by their aliases. The
available information does not detail the specific roles attributed to each
individual in the case, nor does it specify the nature of the actions upon which
the prosecution has based its determination of their respective
responsibilities.
The source indicated that the charges include "assaulting the internal security
of the state, committing acts that violate state law, breaching government
directives, possessing weapons and explosives, and forming illicit associations
aimed at undermining the authority and prestige of the state." The penalties
stipulated for these charges can reach up to ten years of hard labor. Based on
the legal classification of the charges, the case is no longer limited to the
specific incident of transporting a shipment of explosives—which was intercepted
at a security checkpoint—but has expanded to encompass a broader investigation
into the actions attributed to a group of individuals and the extent to which
these actions compromise state security and authority. However, the
determination of individual responsibility and the substantiation of the
elements constituting these offenses remain subject to the judicial
investigation and the evidence and testimonies gathered therein. The inclusion
of the charge of forming illicit associations—with the intent to undermine the
state’s authority and prestige—helps alleviate concerns that the prosecution
before the military judiciary might be too lenient; such concerns had previously
prompted certain political factions to demand that the case be referred to the
Judicial Council. With the case file now referred to
Judge Abu Alwan, it enters the formal investigative phase, during which the
facts and the roles attributed to the defendants will be scrutinized.
Furthermore, the identification of five individuals—currently known only by
aliases—remains a key task, alongside the interrogation of those whose
identities are already known. This allegation marks a key stage in the legal
proceedings, yet it does not constitute a conviction. Regardless of their
gravity, the accusations remain subject to investigation and proof; all
defendants retain their right to a defense and the presumption of innocence,
pending judicial rulings that will determine the outcome of the prosecution and
the extent of each individual's responsibility.
Israeli forces shell, detonate, and burn houses in South Lebanon
Naharnet/October 30/2026
Israeli artillery shelled Friday Mayfadoun, Wadi al-Hujair, Kfarshouba and
Hadatha in south Lebanon while forces set houses ablaze in al-Qantara, the
National News Agency said.
Later in the day, Israeli forces carried out detonations in al-Teereh and Shebaa.
ISF arrests suspect in murder of Jbeil district priest
Naharnet/October 30/2026
The Internal Security Forces announced Friday the arrest of a suspect in the
murder of Father Samir Daou in the Jbeil district. “The investigation is ongoing
under the supervision of the competent judiciary,” ISF added. MTV identified the
suspect as Arkan al-Naddaf, 22, who hails from the Syrian governorate of
Aleppo.The TV network said a force from the ISF Information Branch raided a
building inhabited by around 400 Syrian nationals on the Jbeil-Amchit coastal
road at 4:00 AM, where they arrested the suspect, adding that he confessed to
the crime during interrogation. Father Samir Daou had been found murdered inside
his summer home in Ain Jrain in the Jbeil district, approximately 24 hours after
all contact with him was lost. Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi meanwhile
strongly condemned the “heinous crime,” saying the priest had dedicated his life
to serving God and the Church.
He called upon the competent security and judicial authorities to "follow up on
the investigations with all seriousness and firmness, to uncover the
circumstances of this crime, reveal its truth, identify those responsible, and
bring them to justice, in order to safeguard human dignity, uphold the truth,
and put an end to every violation against the sanctity of human life."
Lebanese Forces Boycott Cabinet Meeting Over Hezbollah Explosives Case
Beirut/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Ministers from the Lebanese Forces party boycotted a cabinet meeting on Thursday
over the government’s failure to refer a case involving Hezbollah explosives
seized in Dahr al-Baidar to Lebanon’s Judicial Council. The boycott marked an
escalation in the dispute after the case was left off the agenda of a meeting
chaired by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail and devoted to waste
management. Lebanese Forces sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the party could
continue boycotting cabinet sessions as long as its demands remained unmet,
although it might participate in meetings addressing matters of major strategic
importance. The standoff follows the cabinet’s decision at its previous meeting
to postpone a ruling on whether to refer the case to the Judicial Council,
pending further progress in the investigation. Hezbollah has acknowledged
responsibility for the explosives shipment, but the Lebanese Forces argue that
the seriousness of the case warrants an immediate referral.
Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, Justice Minister Adel Nassar, who is affiliated
with the Lebanese Forces, vowed to press the issue. “I will raise the question
of referring the Dahr al-Baidar explosives case to the Judicial Council. There
will be no concessions or compromise,” he declared.
Nassar added that he would demand a date for discussing the referral if Salam
refused to address it during the session.Lebanese Forces sources accused the
government of repeatedly avoiding a decision on the explosives case. “The waste
management issue is certainly important, but there are more pressing priorities
today, foremost among them a case of the magnitude of the Dahr al-Baidar
explosives,” they told Asharq Al-Awsat. They criticized the repeated
postponements, arguing that successive Cabinet meetings had failed to produce a
decision on referring the case to the Judicial Council.
The party had taken a clear position against attending Cabinet sessions until
the matter was resolved, the sources explained. “A case of this magnitude cannot
continue to be handled through repeated delays while meetings are held to
discuss other issues, however important they may be,” they added.
The Lebanese Forces stepped up criticism of the judicial investigation, accusing
authorities of overlooking public admissions by senior Hezbollah officials while
pursuing lower-ranking operatives who lacked the authority to order the
explosives shipment. In a statement, the party’s media office noted that senior
Hezbollah officials, including lawmakers and party leaders, had publicly
acknowledged that the group was transporting the explosives and that they
belonged to it. The Lebanese Forces described the Dahr al-Baidar case as a
matter of national security affecting all Lebanese citizens. Whatever
justification was offered for transporting the explosives, the shipment posed a
serious danger even if Hezbollah’s claim that the materials were intended for
use against Israel proved true, it added. The explosives represented a grave
threat to residents of South Lebanon in particular and to the Lebanese
population as a whole, the statement warned.
Senior political source lashes out at Qassem over latest
statement
Naharnet/October 30/2026
The statement issued by Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Wednesday
"constitutes a flagrant departure from the collective national will, a further
persistence in imposing a fait accompli, and a continuation of adventures that
have brought Lebanon nothing but destruction, displacement and collapse,” a
senior political source said. In remarks to the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper, the
source accused Qassem of insisting on “placing decisions of war and peace, as
well as the conditions of national sovereignty, outside state institutions and
the will of the Lebanese people, as if the country were the property of a single
faction deciding its fate and the future of its citizens."The source added that
"Qassem speaks of national unity while imposing preconditions on others,
demanding that they confirm their convictions according to the party's
constants, rather than in accordance with the Constitution and the principle of
equal national partnership."The source questioned "what unity the party speaks
of while refusing to subject its weaponry and military strategy to the decision
of the state, declaring in advance that discussing the surrender of weapons is
off the table -- a stance that destroys the essence of any serious national
dialogue regarding the state's monopoly on arms and the authority of legitimate
institutions."He added that "the attempt to present the continuation of armed
resistance as Lebanon's sole option is nothing short of confiscating the
Lebanese people's right to self-determination, and a deliberate disregard for
the immense cost the country has paid as a result of decisions that lacked
national consensus.”“Meanwhile, southerners, the displaced, and owners of
destroyed homes are still waiting for safety, reconstruction, and the
restoration of their normal lives," the senior source stated, stressing that
"protecting Lebanon does not come by repeating the experiences that dragged it
into wars, nor by turning the sacrifices of the Lebanese into an open
authorization to pursue the same path.”“Rather, it is achieved by restoring
respect for the state, its institutions, and its army, as the sole authority
capable of protecting sovereignty and safeguarding the interests of all
Lebanese," the source noted.Qassem said Wednesday that "the resistance will
continue... and will stand up to the aggression directed against it and against
Lebanon,” stressing that there is no room to discuss disarmament "as long as the
occupation persists and its aggression continues."The group, which once
dominated political life in Lebanon, has been weakened by two wars it waged
against Israel since 2023. In June, Lebanese and Israeli authorities signed a
framework agreement which involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual
Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory, and the deployment of the Lebanese
Army to the area. But Israel continues to carry out sporadic strikes and
demolitions in and around the territory it occupies, while Hezbollah refuses to
submit to government plans to disarm it.
Amal and Hezbollah face growing strain over war concerns,
report says
Naharnet/October 30/2026
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is trying to dissuade Hezbollah from joining a
new support war in case of an eventual Iran war, Nidaa Al-Watan newspaper
reported Friday. The daily claimed there is frustration among the Shiite
community and fear of a rift between Amal and Hezbollah should the armed group
choose war once again. "Silent disagreements (between Amal and Hezbollah) could
turn into an open political confrontation," the daily said. The report revealed
Berri had received diplomatic warnings that any involvement in a war in support
of Iran would have catastrophic consequences for the Shiite community. Al-Jadeed
meanwhile said that Hezbollah has not promised Berri that it will not get
involved in any potential Iran war.
Jumblat offered to help Aoun find alternative negotiation path, Abu Faour
reveals
Naharnet/October 30/2026
Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has expressed his
willingness to support President Joseph Aoun in developing a revised diplomatic
strategy that protects national rights, MP Wael Abu Faour revealed. Speaking to
electronic newspaper al-Anbaa, Abu Faour disclosed that Jumblat had told
President Aoun during a recent meeting in Baabda that he is ready to assist in
crafting "an alternative negotiating approach that helps secure Lebanon's
rights."The initiative comes after Jumblat repeatedly voiced opposition to a
framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel in June through direct
negotiations. The Druze leader has criticized the deal for bypassing the 1949
Armistice Agreement and risking state sovereignty.
Sami Gemayel urges Aoun, Salam not to yield to blackmail
over Hezbollah explosives
Naharnet/October 30/2026
Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel demanded on Friday the referral of Hezbollah's
explosives case to the Judicial Council, urging the President and Prime Minister
not to yield to any threats or blackmail. "Any threat to civil peace is a threat
to the state itself," Gemayel said. Last week, Cabinet decided to postpone
referring Hezbollah's explosives case to the Judicial Council until
investigations are concluded, prompting Lebanese Forces ministers to walk out of
the session in protest. The explosives seized in Dahr el-Baydar belonged to
Hezbollah and the group said they were intended for use against Israeli forces
in southern Lebanon.
PM Salam: Addressing the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon requires a
new approach
LBCI/October 30/2026
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed that the government has begun working with
the Palestinian leadership to address the issue of Palestinian weapons,
stressing that refugee camps are subject to Lebanese sovereignty and laws. His
remarks came during the launch of consultations on the "National Plan for the
Governance of Palestinian Refugee Camps in Lebanon," organized by the
Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee under his patronage and in his presence.
Salam reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to the Palestinian people’s right to
self-determination, emphasizing that addressing the situation of Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon requires a new approach. He expressed hope that the
consultations would lead to practical outcomes benefiting both Palestinian
refugees and the Lebanese state.
Health Ministry issues warning after suspected trichinellosis cases reported in
Lebanon
LBCI/October 30/2026
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health is following up on suspected cases of
trichinellosis, in coordination with relevant authorities, conducting
epidemiological investigations and laboratory tests to identify the sources of
infection and take appropriate measures to protect public health.
The ministry explained that trichinellosis is a parasitic disease transmitted to
humans through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, particularly infected
pork and pork products. The disease does not spread directly from person to
person, and its incubation period ranges from two to eight weeks after consuming
contaminated food.Symptoms typically begin with digestive problems, including
nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, followed by fever, muscle pain, severe
fatigue, and swelling around the eyes. In severe cases, complications may affect
the heart, nervous system, and respiratory system.
The ministry urged citizens to follow preventive measures, including:
Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat.
Purchase meat from reliable and regulated sources.
Do not rely on freezing, salting, or smoking as guaranteed methods of
eliminating the parasite.
Follow proper hygiene and food safety practices when preparing meat.
Seek medical attention if symptoms appear after consuming raw or undercooked
meat.
The ministry stressed the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate
treatment to prevent complications. It also warned restaurant owners, butchers,
and meat suppliers against fraud or manipulation involving the type, origin, or
expiration dates of meat products. The ministry confirmed that violations would
be investigated in coordination with the relevant regulatory and judicial
authorities, with legal action taken against offenders.
Lebanon updates fuel prices
LBCI/October 30/2026
Lebanon updates fuel prices
On Friday, October 30, 2026, 95- and 98-octane fuel prices fell by LBP 40,000,
while diesel rose by LBP 32,000 and gas prices remained unchanged.
The current prices for hydrocarbon derivatives are as follows:
- Gasoline 95 octane: LBP 2,611,000
- Gasoline 98 octane: LBP 2,629,000
- Diesel: LBP 2,608,000
- Gas canister: LBP 1,545,000
AMCD Condemns Massacre at Greek Orthodox Church in Jordan
October 26, 2026
St. George Greek Orthodox Church (Official Directory of the Patriarchate’s
Churches in Jordan)
Washington, D.C. — The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy (AMCD) strongly
condemns today’s terrorist attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the village of
Hamoud, in Jordan’s Karak governorate. Security camera footage shows three
gunmen opening fire with pistols and an automatic weapon on mourners at a
funeral. They killed eight people and wounded forty, of whom 27 remain
hospitalized. The three suspects were wounded and arrested after a firefight
with security forces.
Jordanian King Abdullah II condemned the shooting on X: “The terrorist attack
against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation. Those who delude
themselves into thinking that they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have
no chance in the face of our unity. All Jordanians, from north to south, are
partners in land and fate, and nothing stands between them. Our deepest
condolences to the families of the martyrs and we wish a speedy recovery to
those injured. Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron
fist against those who dare to threaten our nation.”
AMCD offers our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to
Jordan’s Christian community and we pray for the recovery of the
wounded.“Christians in Jordan were murdered today while mourning their dead,”
said AMCD co-chair, John Hajjar. “Condemnation alone is not enough.” Although
the Jordanian government banned the radical Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) in April
of 2025, its terrorist ideology is much harder to eradicate. “Banning the Ikhwan
was an important step,” began Tom Harb, AMCD co-chair. “However, the Jordanian
government must now dismantle the jihadist networks and end the incitement in
classrooms, from pulpits, and within its own institutions.” Since 1990, the
Christian population of Jordan has fallen from 8% to 2.5% and this reflects the
overall trend of a shrinking Christian presence in the Middle East.
AMCD calls on the Jordanian government to: Dismantle irregular militias and
networks operating inside Jordan and fully enforce the ban on the Muslim
Brotherhood and its affiliated organizations. Review and reform school curricula
teaching intolerance toward non-Muslims, and mosque preaching that incites
hatred against Christians and other minorities. Review and dismantle any radical
networks operating inside the Jordanian government.
AMCD once more extends our deepest condolences to the families of the dead and
to the many wounded now burdened with life-changing injuries. It is our sincere
hope that this latest atrocity with trigger the reforms necessary to end this
pattern of intimidation and terror directed toward Jordan’s minority
populations.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on October 30-31/2026/
(Some of the News reports below are
translated from Arabic by AI)
Qatari Delegation in Tehran for Talks
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian
officials, state media reported, as mediators press efforts to revive peace
talks with the United States. According to the IRNA state news agency, the
delegation, headed by a senior adviser to Qatar's prime minister, came to
discuss "bilateral relations... as well as regional developments" with senior
Iranian officials. Senior officials from several countries have flown to Tehran
in recent days as fears rise of a return to hostilities in the Middle East war,
which started eight months ago. The reported Qatari visit came a day after
Iranian media said Iran had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance
addressed to security chief Mohsen Rezaei. The Wall Street Journal said the
letter focused on a possible framework for negotiations rather than specific
terms for a peace deal. The New York Times reported that Vance "made the
outreach in a letter sent last week via Qatari mediators and delivered Sunday to
Gen. Mohsen Rezaei".Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating efforts to revive
peace talks following a ceasefire agreement in April. A Qatari delegation was
also in Tehran on Sunday, according to a senior Iranian official. Qatari Emir
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian
discussed the war on the sidelines of a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. The Middle
East war began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed former
supreme leader Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders in Tehran. Iran
retaliated with attacks on Israel and US assets across the region, while
stopping ships using the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that normally carries
around one-fifth of global oil consumption. On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was discussing a plan with both mediators,
Qatar and Pakistan, to end the war and reopen the waterway. The US has meanwhile
imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, further restricting Tehran's ability to
export oil and conduct trade. Tehran insists that Washington meet seven
conditions for reopening the strait, including a ceasefire across the Middle
East, unfreezing Iranian assets abroad, lifting sanctions on its oil sector and
ending the US naval blockade.
UKMTO: Tanker in Strait of Hormuz Hit by Explosives Attached to Small Boat
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by a small boat with two explosive
devices attached to its hull, causing blasts that sparked a fire in the tanker's
engine room that temporarily disabled the vessel, the United Kingdom Maritime
Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Friday.
The crew were safe, there was no environmental impact and the fire had been
extinguished, UKMTO said in an advisory note, adding that the vessel was
continuing to its next port of call. The incident occurred on Thursday, 25
nautical miles northeast of Oman's Khasab, UKMTO said. It was not immediately
clear who was behind the attack, reported Reuters. The incident comes amid
repeated attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since
the outbreak of the conflict between the US and Iran in February. Iran has
targeted vessels it says have violated its restrictions on passage through the
strategic waterway, as it seeks to assert control over the strait and exert
pressure on Washington. Maritime security risks in the waterway have escalated
during the conflict, with attacks on commercial vessels disrupting shipping
through one of the world's most important oil export routes.
Rubio Hosts G20 Ministers as Iran, Ukraine Wars Divide
Members
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host his G20 counterparts, including
Russia's Sergei Lavrov, for talks on Friday that are expected to be fractious,
with wars in Ukraine and Iran and surging energy prices fanning discord. The
foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, taking place just days before
crucial US midterm elections, will set the stage for a December G20 leaders'
summit in Miami at President Donald Trump's Doral resort. Few breakthroughs are
expected this week from the Group of 20 economies -- which include China, India,
Russia, Japan, Germany and France -- as officials face divisions over Moscow's
war on Ukraine and fallout from conflict with Iran. Russia has been shunned by
most of the West after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and Lavrov himself remains
under international sanctions. Rubio's encounter with Lavrov -- whose presence
adds an additional layer of tension -- will be closely watched as Washington
pursues diplomacy on Ukraine while seeking Moscow's cooperation on reining in
fuel prices, a key campaign issue in the midterms. "The G20 is no longer really
a forum where foreign ministers can reach agreement on a statement," a
diplomatic source said. The source added that the US G20 presidency intends for
Miami's summit to serve "more as a demonstration of American power -- and of US
commitments to growth, deregulation, trade and business -- rather than as a
summit with grand ambitions on substantive issues." Instead of a final
declaration, the source expects a chair summary drafted by the United States to
be published from this week's meeting.The Trump administration, which is set to
hand the rotating G20 leadership to Britain, sees the platform as having strayed
from its core mission. Washington has pledged to return the grouping to its goal
of driving economic growth, arguing that security and economic prosperity are
"inextricably linked.""Conversations in Atlanta will provide an opportunity to
discuss energy and supply chain challenges as well as identify ways to
collectively address the impact of geopolitical tensions on economic security,"
a US State Department official said. They stressed the importance of energy
access -- necessary for tech like artificial intelligence -- and flagged a
"shared resolve to confront urgent crises and keep critical sea lanes open to
commerce without threats or tolls."
'Test case' -
Global energy prices have rocketed since US-Israel strikes on Iran from late
February triggered Tehran's blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. "This is the last
test case the G20 has, at least under the US G20 presidency, until Miami,"
Alisha Chhangani of the Atlantic Council told AFP. Its outcomes will affect how
the December summit shapes up. She expects Washington will seek to argue that
security shocks are also economic shocks. It will likely push for agreement on
what "freedom of navigation" means within and beyond Hormuz, a crucial waterway
for oil and gas transit, she said. But this could face objections from China,
which dissented against wording on free navigation in Hormuz and worldwide at an
earlier gathering of finance ministers.China's top diplomat Wang Yi will not be
in Atlanta, and is instead sending his deputy, the US State Department said.
Meanwhile, the possibility of further escalation in the Middle East is mounting,
with Israel threatening to strike Iran and Trump signaling he could attack after
Tuesday's midterm elections.
Lavrov attendance -
In Atlanta, Rubio is also due to cross paths with Lavrov, who has already
reached Atlanta according to Russian state media. It comes ahead of fresh
negotiations between Moscow, Kyiv and Washington in November. The appearance of
Lavrov, who plans to argue against international sanctions at the gathering,
will likely frustrate European ministers, Chhangani said. It is not surprising,
however, as Washington has welcomed Russian officials to this year's G20 events
-- while excluding member South Africa -- and Trump has invited his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin to Miami in December.
Trump has eased some sanctions on Moscow recently while touting a deal for
Russia to sell diesel as prices soared, squeezing Americans. The diplomatic
source stressed that Russia's G20 presence "in no way legitimizes its
actions."All eyes will also be on US engagement with Brazil, whose foreign
minister will be in attendance, after Washington granted entry to Flavio
Bolsonaro following his defeat in Sunday's presidential election.
Netanyahu bloc finishes in lead but no majority: Official
results
LBCI/October 30/2026
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp finished ahead of the opposition but
remained well short of a parliamentary majority, according to final results from
Israel's general election released early Friday. Netanyahu's coalition of
right-wing and far-right parties won 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats, with his
Likud party remaining the largest single faction with 27 seats.The opposition
bloc, led by centrist Gadi Eisenkot, secured 48 seats. The results from the
Central Elections Committee also confirmed a dramatic breakthrough by Arab
groupings Raam and the United Arab List, which together won 19 seats and could
emerge as kingmakers in coalition talks. The two parties were targeted by
unproven election-fraud allegations circulated by Netanyahu's camp on Thursday.
Politicians and media reports claimed the parties were suspected of receiving
Qatari funds to finance vote-buying. The Arab parties and Qatar denied the
allegations, while Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of seeking to "delegitimise" the
election results. Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency said it was
investigating suspected irregularities but added it was not intended to "cast
aspersions or place blame on an entire sector that went out to vote in a
democratic and lawful manner."Without directly referring to the allegations
against the Arab parties, the electoral commission said Thursday that some
information that had circulated was entirely unfounded. The investigation is
continuing alongside the process being conducted by the Central Elections
Committee. It will have no impact on the final results to be submitted to the
president, it said. The final results will be formally presented on Wednesday to
President Isaac Herzog, who will then begin consultations with party leaders
before tasking one of them with trying to form a government, the commission
said. The absence of a majority bloc points to potentially difficult coalition
negotiations that could last for weeks.If no government can be formed, Israel
could face another election, as it has several times in the past. AFP
Difficult Negotiations Lie Ahead in Israel After Netanyahu’s Bloc Lost Its
Parliamentary Majority
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Israel's final election results confirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s
bloc lost its majority of parliamentary seats and that weeks of difficult
negotiations among very different parties, from ultra-Orthodox Jewish to secular
to Arab-led, lie ahead. The results released early Friday showed Netanyahu’s
bloc won 53 seats in Tuesday's elections. The main opposition bloc won 48.
Arab-led parties secured the other 19, a historic showing. Now parties must
meet, bargain and seek a way to team up for at least 61 seats in the 120-seat
Knesset. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving prime minister, remains in charge.
“Now comes the truly hard part,” centrist politician Yair Lapid said on X,
asking Israelis for patience. Difficult decisions lie ahead. Will the main
opposition parties that campaigned hard to unseat the divisive Netanyahu make
the politically sensitive choice to partner with Arab-led ones? Or will they
toss their vows aside to team up with Netanyahu in a potentially fractious unity
government? Friday is when much of Israel starts winding down for Shabbat, and
it was not clear who might be meeting with whom. The election results still need
to be certified and submitted to the president next Wednesday. Then President
Isaac Herzog will task someone to form the new government. That could be the
leader of the party that received the most votes — Netanyahu — or whoever
leaders of the various parties believe is best suited. If multiple attempts to
form a government fail, Israel faces a new election early next year. Herzog this
week said he will do everything in his power to avoid that scenario. Netanyahu
and Likud target Arab parties without evidence
In the hours before final results were announced, Netanyahu and his Likud party
amplified unsubstantiated allegations that Arab-led parties had “stolen” the
election, potentially with foreign assistance. The opposition quickly accused
Netanyahu of demonizing the Arab population, which makes up 20% of the
population and showed up at the polls like never before in outrage over
Netanyahu’s far-right allies like national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
His party lost seats. In Netanyahu's first public comment Friday, he posted on X
asserting it is forbidden to form a coalition with Arab parties. The head of
Israel’s election committee, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, had said
“serious suspicions” of foreign interference had been brought before him. In a
letter to the Shin Bet security agency, Sohlberg said he could not verify the
claims but asked the agency to investigate. By casting doubt on the vote,
Netanyahu appeared to be trying to block any potential alliance between his
opponents and the Arab-led parties. Netanyahu has suggested that it would be
treasonous for chief rival Gadi Eisenkot or others to join with them. The Shin
Bet, seeking to calm tensions, said its investigation was not meant to “cast
aspersions” on an entire section of the population that “exercised its right to
vote in a democratic and lawful manner.” The elections committee also sounded a
note of caution in a letter written to a concerned member of parliament, saying
that “allegations of systematic violations of electoral integrity are baseless.”
The committee wants findings from the Shin Bet within a week. Opposition could
assert control in the upcoming Knesset Even as coalition negotiations begin, the
new Knesset is expected to be sworn in Nov. 10. Once it convenes, Eisenkot’s
bloc could join forces with the Arab parties to elect a new Knesset speaker,
giving them control over the parliamentary agenda and potentially allowing them
to advance and pass legislation before a new government is formed. Already,
hundreds of Israelis have been holding rallies urging Eisenkot and others to
join forces with the Arab-led parties, a step that has happened only once
before, briefly, in 2021. “We are here today, calling for change, for
Arab-Jewish partnership. The Arabs of the land of Israel are not dangerous to
security. They contribute to the society,” said Danny Elgarat, brother of late
hostage Itzik Elgarat, at a rally outside Eisenkot’s home.
If Netanyahu loses office, that would set off a cascade of events that critics
say he has desperately sought to avoid. He would be taken to account over
yearslong corruption allegations, and an inquiry almost certainly would begin
into security failures before the devastating Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
Report: Iran’s Hidden Web of Military Agencies Is Slipping Hardware Past the US
Blockade
Asharq Al Awsat/October 30/2026
Iran has created a secret network of military agencies with global reach to
import at least $2 billion in hardware, explosives and heavy-duty trucks since
January 2025, evading both the US naval blockade and Western sanctions, a
Reuters investigation has found. Hidden behind names starting with the letters
MOD, for the Ministry of Defense, are more than 5,000 agencies that form a
formidable financial and military machine. Their financial footprints are on
bills of lading and other shipping data dating back to 2016. Some are tied to
the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and to business conglomerates known
as bonyads that are controlled by Iran's elite. The findings offer a window into
one of the war’s great mysteries: How is the IRGC replenishing its missile and
drone arsenals while firing them in their thousands? In the 18 months from
January 2025 to June 2026 – including four months into this year’s war – a
single one of these agencies, MOD 346428, imported huge quantities of rocket
propellants, explosives and weapons components that are critical for making
drones and missiles, as well as heavy-duty trucks that can serve as missile
launchers. The hardware came in by land, sea and air – much of it recorded as
originating in China, Russia and Germany. This investigation of the MOD network
is based on thousands of Iranian bank and government records, corporate filings
and import data. The secret agencies all share the same Tehran address as Iran’s
Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, or MODAFL. They list their
incorporation date as February 11, 1979, the day Khomeini took power in Iran
after overthrowing the monarchy. Most were actually established in 2013, the
records show, as Iran struggled under sanctions that saw its crude exports and
currency plunge.
The agencies, identified for the first time by Reuters in collaboration with the
Israeli-American risk consultancy 240 Analytics, form the backbone of Iran’s
military procurement and sanctions evasion apparatus. They operate a web of
frontmen and foreign shell companies, collectively known as trustees, who use
the proceeds from illicit oil sales to buy goods for Iran.
Senior military leaders involved in Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs
use the network. Phone numbers registered to 91 of the agencies also appear in
records from state-run Bank Sepah of IRGC personnel with accounts there. Among
them are at least two commanders the US has accused of abuses against civilian
protestors.While Iran’s military has been under multiple US sanctions for
decades, Reuters could find no evidence that any of the numbered agencies
referenced in the documents have been designated by Western governments. “What
you have here is the regime's military lifeline during this conflict and for
many years before,” said Miad Maleki, a former senior official at the US
Treasury Department who helped design the American sanctions program against
Iran. “This is the complete ecosystem of the Iranian military’s trade business.”
The weapons import network has provided many of the raw materials Iran needs to
make missiles and drones. Those munitions are responsible for Iran’s relentless
precision attacks against Gulf energy infrastructure, allowing Tehran to blunt
America’s military assault. In other reports this year, Reuters has shown how
Iran withstood US pressure by exploiting crypto exchanges and illegal gambling
networks to tap illicit revenues and circumvent sanctions, how the IRGC
consolidated control of the Strait of Hormuz, and how the war has ushered in a
new era of repression. Maleki was one of four experts on Iranian sanctions and
weapons who reviewed the Reuters findings and confirmed that many of the
materials could be used in Iran’s missile and drone programs. None of the
Iranian government entities or companies contacted by Reuters responded to
detailed requests for comment, including Tehran’s UN delegation to Geneva and
the presidency. In a statement in response to the Reuters findings, a Treasury
Department spokeswoman said the United States “has severed the regime’s economic
lifelines.”“While the regime may continue its desperate attempts to evade our
powerful sanctions, fund its military and weapons programs, and access foreign
currency, we are always 10 steps ahead,” the spokeswoman said. In tracking the
materials, Reuters cross-checked a portion of some 19,000 import records using
the shipping documents, footage from social media, and state media reports.
Nearly all of the items that Iran imported were exempt from duty and
specifically marked as military equipment, the data shows. The experts noted
that much of the material, even explosives, can be considered dual-use, and so
could also have civilian purposes.
The Wall Street Journal reported some of the shipments from China on September
23.
PARALLEL TRADE SYSTEM
The secret military agencies form a foreign-trade system parallel to the formal
global economy that allows Iran to spend the money it earns abroad selling
illicit oil on military hardware, said Maleki, who was the associate director of
the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control until last year.
Money rarely crosses borders, where it might trip a sanctions alarm. Instead,
for 97% of the shipments Reuters reviewed, the transactions were settled
“without currency transfer,” the import data shows. Trusted frontmen in the
diaspora, using cash held in foreign banks, bought the goods and shipped them
home. One end user of the network is the military unit overseeing Iran’s
ballistic missile program. Another is Sahara Thunder, which was sanctioned by
the US in 2024 for manufacturing and supplying drones to Russia that have
devastated Ukraine. Reuters and 240 Analytics identified the Iranian military
units by cross-referencing the import data with corporate registry filings, and
emails and documents compiled on the website WikiIran. Reuters could not
determine the identities of the people who run WikiIran, a website that solicits
leaked documents from the Islamic Republic and says it is operated by Iranians
opposed to the government and “forced into exile.”During the first six months of
this year, according to the import data, deliveries included $1.9 million worth
of detonators, tons of explosives, aircraft engine parts, rocket fuel
ingredients and heavy-duty launch vehicles. All could be used as key components
to build and fire ballistic missiles and drones including the Shahed series,
according to weapons and sanctions experts. “This looks like an
industrial-scale effort to rebuild or expand Iran's existing fleet” of drones
and missiles, said Peter Salisbury, an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia
University who has spent the past several years researching Iranian arms
transfers and supply chains. “This data clearly shows the Iranian ecosystem’s
adaptability and its ability to find new routes.”Salisbury and one of the other
experts said they have used WikiIran’s data in the past and have found it to be
accurate.The United States and Israel have targeted Iran’s ballistic missile
and drone operations from the start of this year’s war on February 28,
including factories the Pentagon said were turning out munitions. Reuters could
not determine the extent of the damage, but Iran has continued to fire on its
neighbors and on ships trying to transit Hormuz. The material entered Iran by
cargo ship across the Caspian Sea from Russia, by truck from Central Asia, and
by freight planes from China,, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and
records provided by ImportGenius, a platform that aggregates import-export data.
In response to detailed questions about the Reuters findings, China’s Foreign
Ministry said it was “unaware of the situation you describe.” “We firmly oppose
attempts to maliciously link regional hostilities to China or smear China’s
reputation,” the Foreign Ministry said in a faxed statement.Russia’s Defense
Ministry, the White House and CENTCOM did not respond to requests for comment.
Beyond individual components, Iran is buying precision machinery that could be
used to manufacture its own military equipment. The purchases include items
coded as sophisticated computer-controlled lathes, electron-beam furnaces and
particle accelerators, according to import data that runs to June. All have
industrial purposes and can also be used to make military equipment, including
drone and missile bodies. On October 12, US President Donald Trump said he did
not believe China and Russia were providing support to Iran. “If they are, it’s
at a very low level, but I don’t believe they are at all,” he posted on social
media. “They have too much to lose, and we would know about it, and know about
it very fast!”
For Palestinian Citizens of Israel, a Historic Vote Borne
of Fear and Frustration
Asharq Al Awsat/October 30/2026
For Palestinian citizens of Israel, it was a rare moment of political triumph.
Hundreds of thousands voted in record numbers, giving two Arab-led parties their
largest-ever number of seats in Israel’s parliament. Many boycotted past
elections, seeing little point. But after years of their communities being
demonized or neglected, some of Israel’s most marginalized citizens turned to
the ballot box to fight back against the most right-wing government in the
country’s history. “We are here and we’re not on the sidelines,” declared
Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, as supporters cheered in a wedding
hall Tuesday night, watching the exit polls. The surge makes them a major
political force that could enable opposition parties to assemble a coalition to
oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But the question is whether Netanyahu’s
main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, and other opponents will ally with them. Only once
has an Arab-led party ever served in an Israeli government. During the campaign,
Netanyahu had accused his main opponents of planning to form a coalition with
them, which Eisenkot denied. Netanyahu and his allies are now turning up the
anti-Arab rhetoric even further, making unproven claims that foreign powers
bribed voters to back Arab-led parties. In a Thursday post on X, Netanyahu
warned against any party forming a government with them, saying it would lead to
the "Islamization of Israel.”
Palestinian grievances fueled the surge
More than 800,000 people on Tuesday voted for Ra’am and the Joint List, a
coalition of three Arab-led parties, a more than 60% increase from the last
elections in 2022, according to figures from the Central Election Committee.The
parties won 19 seats in Israel's 120-member Knesset, surpassing the previous
record of 15. Crowds packed polling places in Arab communities from the Negev
Desert to the northern Galilee. In Tarabin, a Bedouin village in the Negev,
Netanyahu’s party had won majorities the past two elections. Turnout nearly
doubled on Tuesday and Ra’am won 93% of the vote.
The northern town of Sakhnin had Israel’s highest voter turnout, at 87%. Mayor
Mazen Ghnaim said voters saw it as an emergency measure to fight rising violent
crime in Arab communities and incitement by Netanyahu's far-right allies. “I
want to protect my constituents from being killed, my children from being
attacked at their universities and Arab doctors getting attacked at hospitals,”
said Ghnaim, a Ra'am supporter, referring to recent incidents of anti-Arab
violence. The parties worked hard to overcome past reluctance to vote among
Palestinians, who have long felt ignored in the halls of power. They held
community meetings in cities and towns that Jewish-led parties mostly ignored. A
grassroots movement went door-to-door in Bedouin villages to encourage women to
vote.A reaction to Israel's most far-right government ever Voters and candidates
said their heightened participation did not reflect faith in Israeli democracy —
it was a sign of desperation to unseat Netanyahu. Two of his far-right allies,
Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, are responsible for some of Israel’s most
extreme policies and anti-Arab incitement. Ben Gvir, the national security
minister, raised alarm on Election Day over Arab turnout, telling his
supporters, “If you want this country to remain Jewish and Zionist ... then get
out and vote!”
The rhetoric, also echoed by Netanyahu and Smotrich, may have only galvanized
Arab voters.
“We see the government going from bad to worse,” 52-year-old Awni Zoabi said
after voting in Nazareth. “We want to live, we want a future for our children,
and we want a future for ourselves.”The parties offer different visions
Palestinians who managed to stay in Israel after the 1948 war surrounding its
creation — when hundreds of thousands were expelled or fled — today, along with
their descendants, make up more than 20% of the population. They have Israeli
citizenship, including the right to vote, but also feel deep solidarity with
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Ra'am and the Joint List both campaigned
on combating crime and securing investment for Arab communities. But they
offered different visions for how to approach the wider conflict. Ra’am made the
advantages of joining a coalition government central to its pitch to voters and
said little that could alienate potential Jewish allies. It placed a Jewish
former police official second on its candidate list. In contrast, members of the
Joint List called Israel’s campaign in Gaza a genocide and compared the
occupation of the West Bank to apartheid South Africa. Most Jewish Israelis
ardently reject both accusations. “People are clever enough to see what’s
happening. Of the two options, one is proposing a genocide, and the other is
proposing apartheid. These are the choices: bad or worse,” said Sami Abou
Shehadeh, the leader of one of the slate’s parties.
Strong showing doesn't guarantee a role in government
Mainstream Israeli parties have long resisted partnering with Arab-led parties
elected to the Knesset, portraying them as threats to Israel’s Jewish character
or questioning their loyalty to the state. Netanyahu’s opponents welcomed Ra’am
into a short-lived coalition government in 2021, in return offering investment
in Arab communities and legal status for unrecognized Bedouin villages facing
the threat of demolition. The Islamist party's inclusion broke a longstanding
taboo and gave it newfound political influence.But given Israel's rightward
shift, it will be difficult for Eisenkot to maintain support if he partners with
Arab-led parties this time, said Tamar Hermann, senior research fellow at the
Israel Democracy Institute. Israel, she said, has been “moving away from a
liberal democracy and moving toward an ethnic democracy where one ethnicity has
advantages over others.”Ra’am and the Joint List could handily give Eisenkot the
numbers needed to form a government. Both have expressed openness to anything
that removes Netanyahu, including abstaining from a Knesset leadership vote to
lower the threshold Eisenkot would need to win a majority. But in public, rather
than court them, Eisenkot has set conditions, including that they profess that
Israel is a Jewish and democratic state and declare Hamas a terrorist
organization “to be demolished.”Leaders of both parties have condemned Hamas’
Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel but have balked at labeling the group a terrorist
organization, in part because it would appear to justify Israel's devastating
campaign in Gaza. Abbas acknowledged Israel as a Jewish state in 2021, while
some Joint List leaders have questioned whether a country can be both democratic
and privilege members of one religion.
The conditions of any such partnership are unclear
Abbas said Tuesday that he was confident Ra'am would join a government. But his
party did not respond to questions this week about whether it would accept
Eisenkot’s conditions or what its own terms were.Yousef Jabareen, the Joint
List’s leader, told The Associated Press on Wednesday he had not yet spoken to
Eisenkot but was ready for talks. He said parties on his slate had not agreed on
their conditions, but hoped for protections and equality for Palestinian
citizens, and promises to revive the peace process. Above all, he recognized the
desire to see Netanyahu gone.
“We have promised our community to do our best to get rid of this fascist
government,” Jabareen said.
Coalition Intercepts Houthi Drone over Makkah Region
Asharq Al Awsat/October 30/2026
Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki
announced that a Houthi drone was intercepted and destroyed over the Makkah
region early Friday, hours after air defenses intercepted a cruise missile fired
by the group towards the Kingdom’s western region.
Shortly afterwards, the Yemeni Armed Forces said they were taking “with the
utmost seriousness” field reports from the Taiz frontlines that the Houthi
militia had used projectiles suspected of containing toxic substances, causing
civilians and members of the Popular Resistance to suffer suffocation and loss
of consciousness. The military said the reports warranted an urgent
investigation to identify the substances used, document their effects, establish
their sources and expose the parties involved in supplying them. Meanwhile,
Yemen’s Transport Ministry announced on Thursday that Aden International Airport
in the south of the country had resumed normal operations after suspending
flights following a strike on Wednesday evening, claimed by the Houthis.
Egypt Keeps Communication Channels Open Over Mediterranean Maritime Disputes
Cairo: Fathiya al-Dakhakhni/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Egypt said it remains in contact with Türkiye, Libya, Cyprus and Greece to
resolve maritime boundary disputes through dialogue and international law,
despite its rejection of a disputed Turkish-Libyan maritime agreement. Cairo’s
remarks came after Ankara renewed its offer to negotiate a maritime boundary
agreement with Egypt that would serve both countries’ interests. The proposal
followed Egypt’s rejection of the Libyan parliament’s ratification last week of
a maritime memorandum signed with Türkiye in late 2019. Egyptian Foreign
Ministry spokesman Ambassador Nader Zaki told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo
believes maritime differences must be resolved through “serious dialogue,
adherence to international law and mutual respect for sovereign
rights.”“Channels of communication remain open with all parties, including
Cyprus, Greece, Türkiye and Libya,” he said, citing Egypt’s commitment to its
longstanding ties with countries on both shores of the Mediterranean. Zaki
stressed that those relations must be built on respect for international law and
sovereign rights that “cannot be compromised,” while avoiding disputes that
could undermine stability and relations among Mediterranean states.
Cairo Reaffirms Rejection of Turkish-Libyan Agreement
Libya’s House of Representatives voted last week to approve two agreements with
Türkiye covering maritime boundaries and security cooperation, prompting Cairo
to reiterate its rejection of the maritime deal as “absolutely null and
void.”Zaki said Egypt’s latest objection was consistent with its position since
2019, arguing that the memorandum infringes on its sovereign rights in the
exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. “Egypt’s position on this invalid
memorandum is based on national interests and the rejection of any infringement
upon them,” he said. The spokesman also challenged the agreement’s legal basis,
saying it violates several binding principles of international law, including
the principle that treaties do not create obligations for third parties. “An
agreement signed by two states is not binding on other states,” he explained.
Zaki also cited the prohibition against infringing on the rights of third
countries and the principle of equitable maritime delimitation, arguing that the
memorandum disregards these established legal rules. “Egypt’s legal position is
extremely strong and is shared by many countries,” he said.
Erdogan Calls for Regional Dialogue
The Turkish-Libyan memorandum has also drawn objections from Greece, Cyprus and
the European Union. Responding to criticism on Monday, Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara was not seeking political gains at the expense of any
party in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He called for dialogue with all countries in the region and pledged to maintain
Türkiye’s relations with all parties involved in Libya.
Türkiye, Egypt to Hold Naval Drills Amid Eastern Mediterranean Tensions
Ankara: Saeed Abdulrazek/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Türkiye and Egypt will hold joint naval exercises in Alexandria from November 4
to 9, Ankara announced, amid renewed tensions over a disputed maritime boundary
agreement between Türkiye and Libya. The announcement follows the Libyan
parliament’s ratification of the 2019 agreement, drawing objections from Egypt,
Greece, Cyprus, the European Union and Israel. The Turkish Defense Ministry said
the Sea of Friendship 2026 exercises would involve naval units and personnel
from both countries in surface warfare, anti-submarine operations, air defense
and underwater assault training involving combat divers. Defense Ministry
spokesman Zeki Akturk said the Turkish warship TCG Burgazada would visit
Alexandria from November 1 to 3, following a port call in Souda, Greece, from
October 25 to 28.
Growing military cooperation
The exercises reflect expanding military cooperation between Cairo and Ankara,
including defense industry agreements, technology transfers, high-level military
exchanges and joint training. Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Metin Tokel
visited Egypt on October 26 and 27, although the ministry provided no details
about his meetings or itinerary. The two countries resumed the Sea of Friendship
exercises in September 2025 at the Aksaz naval base in Mugla, southwestern
Türkiye, following a 13-year suspension amid tensions over the ouster of Egypt’s
Muslim Brotherhood government. Cairo designates the Brotherhood a terrorist
organization.
The drills had previously been held annually from 2009 to 2013.
Following the normalization of relations in 2024, Egypt and Türkiye signed a
letter of intent on defense cooperation in July 2026 during Egyptian Defense
Minister Ashraf Salem Zaher’s visit to Ankara. Zaher held talks with his Turkish
counterpart, Yasar Guler, on expanding military cooperation, particularly in
joint training, defense manufacturing, technology transfer and exchanges of
expertise. The two countries have since conducted several joint exercises,
including Golden Eagle, involving Egyptian paratroopers and commandos alongside
Turkish special forces, as well as air force training.
Egyptian aircraft also participated in the annual Anatolian Eagle 2026 exercise
in Konya, central Türkiye, in June, alongside Azerbaijan and a NATO airborne
early warning aircraft.
Regional tensions
The exercises come against a backdrop of renewed tensions following the Libyan
House of Representatives’ October 20 ratification of a maritime boundary
memorandum signed on November 27, 2019, between Türkiye and Libya’s former
Government of National Accord, led by Fayez al-Sarraj.
The agreement remains contested by neighboring countries and the European Union.
Ankara has renewed its offer to negotiate maritime boundaries with Egypt, saying
that an agreement with Türkiye would give Cairo more than 15,000 additional
square kilometers of maritime jurisdiction compared with a potential deal with
Greece. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis rejected the proposal’s
underlying approach, telling the newspaper Kathimerini that maritime zones were
“not up for auction.” He reaffirmed Greece’s strategic ties with Egypt and their
shared commitment to international law, warning that disregarding maritime rules
could have repercussions for global trade, food and energy security, and ocean
protection. Gerapetritis also pointed to a joint statement issued Monday by the
UN representatives of Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates
and the European Union opposing the Türkiye-Libya agreement. He noted that
Egypt’s permanent representative to the United Nations stood alongside him in
New York as he delivered the statement. Despite the maritime dispute, Türkiye
and Greece are continuing military confidence-building efforts. Akturk said the
commander of Greece’s Tactical Air Force and an accompanying delegation would
visit Türkiye’s Combat Air Force Command from November 3 to 5 under the two
countries’ confidence-building plan.
Thousands of Students, Workers Protest in Italy Under Heavy
Security
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Thousands of students and workers took to the streets across Italy on Friday,
calling for more school funding and relief from the soaring cost of living, amid
a high police presence to avert possible clashes. Friday's Italy-wide protest
comes after weeks of demonstrations, led by students who have set up tent camps
and occupied schools to make their demands heard, fueled by similar movements in
nearby France and Spain. A general strike called by Italy's USB trade union
attracted thousands of workers to Friday's protests, including truck drivers,
taxi drivers and farmers who have rallied in recent weeks over the spike in fuel
prices and to oppose rising defense spending. Marches were held in dozens of
cities up and down the country, including in Bologna, Genoa, Naples, and Turin
-- where a few minor skirmishes between protesters and riot police occurred at
the start of the protest. In Rome, university student Beatrice Chilelli told AFP
students were "at a breaking point". "They can't afford to pay exorbitant
tuition fees, and rent... which weighs heavily on their parents' shoulders,"
said the 21-year-old, citing student housing in Rome that could reach 1,200
euros per month for a single room. Thousands of people left Rome's central
Termini train station, accompanied by two tractors and a taxi, making their way
past the Colosseum as they waved flags, unfurled banners and shouted into
megaphones. An AFP photographer witnessed a heavy police presence outside the
Economy Ministry, which the procession passed by. "We need more houses, not
bombs!" sang one group in the crowd, as a troupe of protesters gave a brief
performance imitating terrified civilians in a Gaza bombing raid. The Milan
protest also began at the central train station, but then headed outside the
city -- far from the center where young vandals had looted stores, destroyed
property and clashed with police two weeks ago after another sanctioned
cost-of-living demonstration. "Let's reclaim our future" read one banner
unfurled by students in Milan.Police in riot gear blocked off streets, but no
major clashes had been reported as of midday. Besides students, the
demonstrators at Friday's protest included teachers, workers and retired people,
with one man in Rome bearing a sign that read "Pensioners - Pissed Off and
Furious". Many pro-Palestine flags were seen in the crowds in major cities.
Ahead of the demonstration, a spokesperson for the OSA student movement,
18-year-old Laura Teresi, told AFP she expected a "massive" mobilization that
would empty out schools. "We will take to the streets to denounce the rearmament
policies of (Prime Minister Giorgia) Meloni's government and the rising cost of
living, which is weighing ever more heavily on families, workers and students,"
she added. The students will also protest against the "endless budget cuts to
teaching", Teresi said.
Law and order -
Following the October 17-18 weekend of clashes between youth and police in
Milan, Meloni's hard-right government toughened laws on public gatherings while
easing rules on detaining minors. The government also last week agreed on a
175.2-million-euro ($195 million) aid package for truck drivers, farmers and
fishermen hit by soaring fuel prices linked to the war in the Middle East.
Measures in favor of young people and families are also planned in the draft
2027 budget currently being discussed among the various governing parties, such
as an annual bonus of 2,500 euros for workers under 30. "I hope this can provide
answers for young people in general... who feel that the state doesn't care
about them," Meloni said at a press conference on Wednesday, stressing that
these measures were "not for those who smash windows".
Zelensky to visit Turkey on Saturday for talks with Erdogan: Turkish presidency
LBCI/October 30/2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet his Turkish counterpart, Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, on a working visit to Turkey for talks over war with Russia and
the security situation in the Black Sea, the Turkish presidency said. "During
the discussions to be held in Istanbul, the parties will address steps that can
be taken to further enhance bilateral cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine, as
well as regional and international developments -- most notably the
Russia-Ukraine War and the security situation in the Black Sea," Burhanettin
Duran, communications director at the presidency, said on X. AFP
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on October 30-31/2026
Believe Me, She's Making Her Way...
Samir Atallah/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Those concerned speak of civil war as if it were a foregone conclusion. In
Lebanon, notorious for its weak national spirit, as in France, where national
unity is always severely tested. If the political situation in Lebanon is
dilapidated and fragile, with the risk of civil war appearing imminent, then
what about France, where the components and foundations of the state are among
the strongest globally?It is the general global situation that also conveys this
impression. If we were to give a single title to this state of turmoil, it would
be 'the obsession with disintegration.' Its cause, quite clearly, is the laxity
that has afflicted states and their fear of confronting internal communal
tendencies. This has led to the continuous proliferation of waves of extremism
over the years. Thus, it is said that the French have finally succumbed to her
charm this time. She was delivering her speech in a manner reminiscent of
old-time oratory, while outside, people heard sounds of smashing, breaking, and
racist slogans. How many trembled in fear as they listened to the French and
European masses responding to her veiled calls?
The matter is more serious than ever: The right is at the doors. The barbarians
are at the gates. And who will stand against them this time? Imagine the scene.
The right at the peak of its ascendancy and violence, the left at the peak of
its despair, and Paris a stage for more barbarism.
I am not afraid. The whole world is afraid. I was astonished that I spent all
this time listening to the speech of Madame Marine Le Pen, and with admiration
too, however fleeting, but I am not important. I do not vote. All I can do is be
afraid. For France and the French, their comrades and their homes.
This world is frightening because of how intertwined and contradictory it is.
Madame Le Pen is coming this time. And in a rhetorical drama reminiscent of the
orator of the Revolution, Monsieur Mirabeau.
Iran: Bitter-Enders and Hole-Diggers
Amir Taheri/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
The old adage says “if you are in a hole, stop digging!” Yet, the leftover
Khomeinist regime in Tehran seems determined to do the opposite. Dozens of
pseudo-politicians, politicized mullahs, retired generals and wannabe analysts
appear on the small screen to declare “victory” and urge a nation that no longer
believes their tale to continue “resisting until complete victory.” It is like
continuing to dig the hole in the hope of one day hitting a gold mine. In the
process, the diggers continue adding to an already long list of enemies they
have created for almost five decades. Pakistan has been trying to get them off
the hook through diplomacy. Yet, the bitter-enders attack it as a failed state
and host of anti-Iran terrorist groups. The IRGC’s news site Tasnim even calls
for direct military intervention in Pakistani territory to deal with those
groups. Kuwait is trying to remind Tehran of the good old days of brotherly
relations, but gets a kick in the teeth. Qatar has been acting as a mediator
more than sympathetic to Tehran, but is constantly booed as a lightweight trying
to punch above its weight. Oman, who has kowtowed to Tehran more than any other
country, is rewarded by being ignored as sovereign on the southern coast of the
Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia is working hard to find a diplomatic way out of
the current impasse, but is rewarded by increased support for the Houthis in
Yemen. On Wednesday, Tasnim even claimed that the Kingdom’s very existence was
in danger.
The UAE, which has acted as the Khomeinist regime’s lungs for almost four
decades. is branded Enemy Number 3 because of Abu Dhabi’s close ties with Enemy
Number One, the US, and Number Two, Israel. The truncated leadership even took
the time to launch a childish campaign aimed at sabotaging the candidature of a
UAE diplomat as UN Secretary-General. Bahrain remains the target of especially
violent propaganda attacks with frequent calls for its invasion and occupation.
Türkiye resisted intense American pressure to avoid cutting off Iran’s transit
lifeline and, along with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, even invited Tehran to
consider joining a new architecture of security for the region. Yet, it too is
now subject of new propaganda attacks and warned not to seek a leadership
position in the Muslim world. The subtext is that despite having severed ties
with half a dozen Muslim nations and fired missiles and drones at 10 others,
such leadership belongs to the Khomeinist regime. At the same time, the parallel
world inhabited by the hodgepodge presented as government, one finds individuals
and groups that talk of change, reform and even a strategic change of trajectory
from “resistance” to economic development. Both bitter-enders and
“reform-seekers” cite the still hidden “Supreme Guide” Mojtaba Khamenei in
support of their respective fantasies.
In recent days, the number of people who claim to have actually seen Mojtaba has
risen to six. However, none of them said what actually was said apart from the
“Supreme Guide” endorsing their contradictory positions. One gets the impression
that the hidden “Guide” agrees with whoever calls on him. The two factions talk
of the past and muse about the future, but offer no ideas about here and now.
Both count on largely imaginary support from China and Russia to weather any
storm ahead.
In its present shape, the truncated leadership is unable to fight or negotiate
the end of hostilities. If President Donald Trump offers them new concessions,
it would encourage them not to change course. If on other hand, Trump unleashes
his Mother-of-All-Bombs (MOAB) on several targets, they would use it as
justification for digging the hole they are in. If Benjamin Netanyahu survives
as Israel’s prime minister and returns to “finishing the job”, presumably by
killing more civilian and military officials and bombing more infrastructure, we
would get the same result. Is diplomacy still possible? Yes, in theory.
Demanding “unconditional surrender”, as President Trump once did, is playing in
the theater of abstractions. For diplomacy to succeed, a number of conditions
must be met. The first is a grand coalition consisting of all six Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) members, Türkiye and Pakistan singing from the same
hymn-sheet. That would require Oman, Qatar and Kuwait to abandon their fantasies
about “special relations” with the Khomeinist regime. For its part, Abu Dhabi
must abandon the forlorn hope of escaping harm thanks to foreign support. That
would also require China and Russia to change their policy of using the
Khomeinist regime as a pawn in their power-game against the United States and
the European Union. Even then, any diplomatic plan should include concrete
demands from Tehran beyond the largely folkloric ones, such as enriching uranium
to lower grade, something that is easy to promise but hard to impose on a
long-term basis. One concrete demand is for Tehran to cease supporting the
truncated Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in western Yemen. These are
things that can easily be checked Tehran should end its 100-man military
“advisory” mission and stop the supply of kits for missiles and drones to Sanaa.
The $100 million “humanitarian” aid promised for Lebanese Hezbollah could be
channeled through Lebanon’s legal authorities to make sure it is spent only for
the purpose claimed.
Even then no deal should be made without public endorsement by all factions in
Tehran including the “Supreme Guide”, the Islamic Majlis, the formal presidency,
and the HCNS. The error that Barack Obama made with his non-paper ambiguous
deals should not be repeated.
Having said all that, I don’t believe that the so-called “Iran problem” could be
definitely resolved without regime change. The scorpion stings not because it is
programmed by nature to do so. But regime change is a matter of Iranian people
who have repeatedly shown their desire to return to the path of peace and
economic development. A truce that ends an unwinnable war could provide the
space needed for a permanent defanging of the scorpion.
The Karak Tragedy and the Question of Immunity in Religion
Radwan al-Sayyed/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
Karak has a long memory of extremism and terrorism. Pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh,
burned alive by ISIS, came from there. So did the gang that barricaded itself in
Karak Castle in 2016 and killed ten people, seven of them members of the
security forces. A dispute has recently broken out between the Syrian and
Jordanian authorities, apparently prompted by Jordanian suspicion that the cell
from the village of al-Jadida in Karak was influenced by ISIS networks in Syria.
Such influence is possible. But it should not distract us from a larger truth:
violent extremism has been a phenomenon in many of our societies for decades. We
can no longer console ourselves, when tragedy strikes in any of our countries,
that it was imported from somewhere else or engineered by foreign powers against
our lands and peoples.The root of the disease in the Karak cell lies in ideas
that were planted and hardened into beliefs, carrying with them hatred of anyone
different in religion, nationality, culture, or outlook. This "culture" is
relatively new, a few decades old, and it grew out of fear for identity in the
face of the Western stranger. It has passed through several stages: first a call
for reform; then a drive for progress, to overcome decline as the West defined
it; then partisan organization to preserve or recover identity; and then a
revolutionary identity bent on wrecking the world. In recent years, we have
entered a stage of contraction, isolation, and despair, shot through with
violence.
There is no need to detail the ideas and mechanisms of each stage. But in the
revolutionary stage, as is well known, the violent organizations faced a global
campaign in which the Arab countries took part. It dealt them enormous blows,
scattering their ranks and breaking their terrorist claim to speak for religion.
The hardliners therefore had to change their methods without changing
themselves. The teachers and guides carried on, but mass organizational
mobilization was no longer always possible, so they went underground as
individuals and small groups.
This phase of concealment, tense and vengeful, changed not only their methods
but their targets. Over the past decades, their targeting has taken four forms.
The first, global targeting, is no longer possible because of the blows they
suffered and the precautions taken against them. The second is flight and
relocation, moving to and riding on the back of other organizations in West
Africa and elsewhere. The third is widening the alliance with the Houthis in
Yemen and, in East Africa, with the Somali al-Shabaab movement. The fourth is
isolated cells that act without direct orders and against nearby targets, such
as the authorities and Christians. As the forms of targeting changed, so did the
targets. Recall that in 1998 Osama bin Laden announced a front to confront the
Christians and the Jews. In his traditional vocabulary, he meant the global
arena, which he went on to strike in America and Europe, and in the bombing of
two embassies in East Africa. Since then, the horizons have shrunk. Targets are
now chosen by capability rather than by strategic aim, and in their retreat the
extremists have returned to their nearest origins: the organs of the state, and
those who differ within our own societies.
Extremism is an intractable disease, the product of long exposure to hardline
teaching and indoctrination, and to images of the religion's enemies near and
far.
Some active on social media want to link the Karak attack to the wars on Gaza
and Palestine, citing anger and exhaustion. Nothing could be further from the
truth. Neither al-Qaeda, nor ISIS, nor the other hardliners have had anything to
do with Palestine, nor have they carried out, or tried to carry out, a single
suicide operation in the occupied territories since their terrorism began at
home in the 1970s. We should not go on believing that this is a passing
phenomenon that will end on its own. It is a disease that entered Islam through
hardline teaching in one environment after another. That indoctrination
continues, and the fight against it must continue too. It can be described as a
weakness of immunity, something neither known nor familiar in our texts or in
our historical or modern lives. Weak immunity means that religion can be used,
exploited, and manipulated.
All of this is visible in our societies in different forms and finds supporters,
even if most incline toward withdrawal, toward retreat into family life and
turning upon it, and toward violence against the nearby other or the
authorities. These are sick, vengeful psyches turning on those they believe have
left the faith, even when they are their own brothers, wives, or children.
Before all this and after it, what do we actually say to our Christian fellow
citizens on whom this deep wound has fallen? And what do we say to our young
people when they throw at us Trump's talk of destructive migrants, or Rumsfeld's
words a quarter of a century ago about Islam being hijacked by extremists, and
about good Americans wanting to help us "moderates" take our religion back?
Why Does Extremist Thought Not Die?
Dr. Amal Moussa/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
The treacherous terrorist attack on a church in Karak governorate came as a
terrible shock to the Jordanian and Arab conscience. It violated the sanctity of
a place of worship in an attempt to stab at the values of religious coexistence
and harmony.
What deepened the shock is that this painful attack, which took innocent lives,
is the first of its kind in Jordan's history to target a Christian place of
worship. That gives it a shocking particularity in a country known for a rare
model of social stability despite its sensitive geopolitical position.
Across the Arab world, the crime is not unique; it belongs to a dark history
that includes earlier bloody episodes in Egypt, Iraq, and Syria. But a close
look at the frequency and trajectory of such attacks, in number and in kind,
shows that their intensity has declined markedly in recent years. They have
shifted from coordinated suicide operations to sporadic strikes by isolated
sleeper cells, which seek soft targets to announce their existence and to show
that claims about drying up their sources are untrue. The first conclusion,
then, is that terrorism has declined organizationally, in its structure and in
the weight of its targets, without its danger disappearing. This heinous crime
cannot be separated from its political context: the exploitation of acute
regional tensions and international ideological incitement. With the Middle East
in military ferment and confrontation centered on the war with Iran, extremist
cells have tried to exploit states' preoccupation with these larger conflicts
and, true to form, to strike state and society by surprise. At the same time,
the media machine of the takfiri organizations exploits hardline Western
statements to recruit online and to indoctrinate their lone wolves. Targeting a
Christian church is a sick reaction and a deluded revenge, meant to ignite
manufactured sectarian chaos in a safe and stable society that has never known
such strife. The problem goes beyond excess in religion. It is a wholly mistaken
understanding of religion, and of how truly to defend the teachings and values
of Islam. That understanding, which leads to the killing of innocents, is the
real conspiracy against the Arab and Islamic world, and institutions, societies,
and elites must confront it. When an Arab or Muslim state succeeds, through its
military and intelligence institutions, in building a security wall that resists
penetration, extremist thought runs into a structural impotence. It changes the
method and target of its treachery, turning from regular forces to "illusory
victories" in open social spaces: places of worship, or museums, as in the March
2015 attack on the Bardo Museum, next to the parliament building in Tunis. At
this stage, civilian gatherings and peaceful houses of worship become the crime
scenes of lone wolves, who exploit these soft targets' lack of protection to
cause the greatest possible bloodshed and media shock.
Here lies the paradox of the lone wolf: organizational fragility combined with a
capacity for treachery. Structurally, lone wolves are the weakest, most
fragmented, and most isolated links in the chain of extremism, unable to
confront or penetrate fortified security sites. Their danger lies in the
impossibility of predicting their random movements. They strike soft targets
without warning, to prove that military weakness need not prevent them from
harming social peace. Extremist thought persists, and refuses to die, because it
is not merely a military organization that can be dismantled. It is a closed
cognitive structure and an ideological system that feeds on economic fragility
and crises of identity. It has a defensive mechanism known in the literature on
terrorism as "tactical dormancy," and a capacity to mutate and to reproduce its
ideas across history, turning every kind of fragility in this tense world to its
use. Its drivers, hate speech, a sense of marginalization, geopolitical
tensions, and civilizational shocks, renew themselves.So, the territorial defeat
of the organizations does not kill the idea. It turns it into a "liquid idea"
that travels through digital space. That is how such thought sleeps through
periods of security pressure, only to wake again as cluster cells or lone wolves
the moment one of its drivers meets a lapse in vigilance that can be exploited
to score a bloody goal. The security approach has done its part well against
terrorist organizations. Lone wolves, however, require of us a deeper, more
attentive, and stricter social vigilance.
Between the Mosque and the Shrine: Reconciliation in Post-Baath Iraq and Syria
Mustafa Fahs/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 30/2026
The distance between Baghdad and Damascus is not measured in kilometers, as it
reflects an ambiguous relationship between two countries divided by ideologies
and regimes, yet united by history and geography. It was destined for the two
cities that one should inherit the other, and then that one should fall after
the other. Baghdad inherited the caliphate from Damascus, only for Baghdad to
fall to the Mongols in 1258, with Damascus following suit two years later. They
continued to alternate in rise and fall until Baghdad fell to the Baath party in
1968; two years later, Damascus also fell to the Baath in 1970. Consequently,
Hafez al-Assad assumed the presidency in 1971, two years after Saddam Hussein
was appointed vice president in 1969, as if the path leading Syrians and Iraqis
into the unknown were paved with repetition.
On the road to Damascus, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi did not merely
traverse the 850 kilometers separating the two capitals; he also collapsed
decades of conflict and division between them. The handshake at Damascus
International Airport between al-Zaidi and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who
broke traditional protocol to greet him on the tarmac, is the handshake of the
brave to establish peace. It is a handshake that encapsulates a transformation
in a relationship long governed by rivalry - one historically entangled in the
competing dynamics of the dual Baath factions, the wars of militant groups, and
the shifting calculations of friend and foe states that long dominated its
trajectory. For al-Sharaa went to Baghdad as a fighter and returned from it as
president, while al-Zaidi, coming from a business background, represents a
political faction in power, a portion of which fought to defend the Assad regime
for years. Therefore, bridging the distance begins with rebuilding the
relationship on the foundation of stability and mutual interests, and moving
past a recent history that extracted heavy prices from both sides.
In Damascus, al-Zaidi laid his cards on the table. From here, wealth must begin
to flow. The corridors between the two capitals are no longer for transporting
fighters, but have instead become a vital sphere for transferring wealth,
exchanging interests, and serving as a gateway for visitors and tourists.
This vital sphere taking shape between Baghdad and Damascus is reconstructing
the Eastern Mediterranean and its borders, at a moment when the region is being
reshaped anew amidst the risks of conflicts that could further dismantle what
has already been dismantled and prevent the unification of what can still be
unified. It is a historical moment that must be capitalized upon to block the
path of anyone seeking to dismantle or weaken the state system, or hold it
hostage to major regional and international anticipations and interests forged
outside shared Arab interests and specific Iraqi-Levantine interests.
In this geographical space, the shores of Basra, with all their economic and
strategic weight, become a harbor for Damascus, while the port of Tartus becomes
part of an economic sphere connecting Iraq to the Mediterranean. Between the
ports and cities, a space of economy, civilization, and humanity can take shape,
alongside the spiritual bonds manifested in the Iraqi prime minister's visit to
the Umayyad Mosque, accompanied by the Syrian foreign minister, and subsequently
to the Sayyida Zeinab Shrine, in order to suppress strife and liberate the
sacred from destructive ideologies.
Here, claims to the monopoly of the sacred collapse; for the shrine is guarded
by the people of the Levant, and the mosque stands as an emblem of unity and
gathering, rather than a pretext for fighting and dismantling. The spiritual
bonds between societies can serve as a bridge to reconnect what wars have
severed, instead of being transformed into fuel for conflicts. The two
countries, which were divided by the Baath party and whose ties were severed by
fighting, are today capable of forging interests that render them a model for a
secure neighborhood - one where wealth and mutual interests intersect, and where
the state reclaims its position as the guarantor of society's unity and future.
Consequently, between the mosque and the shrine, reconciliation is not completed
by a handshake alone, but rather by transforming it into a political, economic,
and human project that protects both countries from a repetition of the past and
grants their peoples an opportunity to forge a different future.
Selected Face Book & X tweets
on October 30/2026