English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News &
Editorials
For September 17/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/aaaanewsfor2026/english.september17.26.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a
little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not
overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going
John 12/31-36: “Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world
will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all
people to myself.’He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The
crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains for
ever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of
Man?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while
you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in
the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light,
believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’ After Jesus had
said this, he departed and hid from them.”
Titles For The English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published on September 16-17/2026
Farewell to Dory Camille Chamoun: A Champion of Lebanese Sovereignty,
Freedom, and Faith/Elias Bejjani/September 14, 2026
Video Link to a superb English presentation fron JNS by Israel ambassador to USA
Yechiel Leiter the Israeli representative in the Israeli-Lebanese peace talks
Salam government wins confidence vote for third time with 68 votes
Lebanese, Israeli ambassadors meet in Washington as Issa visits south
Israeli force blows up house in Halta, abducts resident
South Lebanon: Latest developments
Washington: We continue to support the dialogue track between Lebanon and Israel
Israel pledges to prevent Hezbollah's military return to south of the Litani
Violent explosions shake the South.. and Israeli withdrawal from Halta after
kidnapping a citizen
Meeting of the leaderships of Amal and Hezbollah.. to defuse tension between the
bases of the two parties?
The "Foreign Ministry" condemned the attack on Mecca: A flagrant violation of
the sanctity of the holiest Islamic places
Joseoh Aoun heads to Paris for talks and army aid preparatory meeting
Joseph Aoun wants Israel security deal, Hezbollah disarmament without
confrontation
Hezbollah MPs, rivals clash in parliament over Israel
Beirut port blast investigation: Why was Michel Aoun’s name included in the
Public Prosecution’s submission?
Aoun meets Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Paris, discusses support for Lebanon
Aoun in Paris: Strengthening Lebanon’s military and security institutions is a
top priority
Aoun: Lebanon Wants Israel Security Deal, Hezbollah Disarmament Without
Confrontation
Lebanon wants Israel security deal as prelude to peace: president to AFP
Michel Aoun files complaint over reports implicating him in port blast case
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on
September 16-17/2026
Iran is pushing Gulf states toward Israel: The secret talks and the forming
coalition
Trump administration plans to sell Israel $2.8 billion powerful bombs
Netanyahu’s party seeks to impede Israeli expat voting in upcoming close-fought
elections
US Treasury gathers global financial institutions to advance Iran sanctions
US Fed makes quarter-point rate hike over high inflation
Katz says Israel will 'finish job' in Gaza and remove Palestinians
US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, sources say
Pakistan says Mecca Defense Alliance could expand, stresses pact not aimed at
Iran
Why Yemen’s Houthis have only grown stronger through years of war
Saudi Arabia condemns Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca as regional outcry
grows
US Warns Houthis Through Security Channels: We Are Not Negotiating with You
Israel highlights regional military cooperation and intelligence focus on Yemen
Yemen's Houthis say targeted Saudi oil facility, air base
Why Yemen's Houthis have only grown stronger through years of war
China FM says willing to 'safeguard' Iran's rights
Saudi says Houthis target Mecca, warn of 'red line'
Toll from Gaza building collapse rises to 20, including 5 children
Syria Parliament Votes to Abolish Assad-Era Terrorism Court, Nullify Rulings
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials
from miscellaneous sources published
on September 16-17/2026
Stealth Jihad in the West: A
Conversation with Robert Spencer/Grégoire Canlorbe/Gatestone Institute/September
16, 2026
Will Hezbollah Risk Joining the Houthis?/Brigadier General Khaled Hamadeh//Al-Liwaa/September
16, 2026
Yemen: A Battle to Restore the State/Dr. Abdel Monem Saidr/Asharq Al-Awsat/September
16/2026
Terrorism that Changed its Shape/Yousef Al-Daynir/Asharq Al-Awsat/September
16/2026
The Partial European Boycott Will Not Deter Israel/Ahmad Mahmoud Ajajr/Asharq
Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
Investing in Innovation Where it Matters Most/Dr. Abdullah AlMoallem and Dr. Ons
Al Khadrar/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
Yemen Interior Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iran Seeking to Militarize Bab
al-Mandeb Through the Houthis/Riyadh: Abdulhadi Habtor/Asharq Al-Awsat/September
16/2026
Saudi Arabia Trades Mecca for Jerusalem/Ari Tatarka/It's Noon In
Israel/September 16, 2026
The International Organization of the Muslim Brotherhood.. Egypt's Battle That
Has Not Ended/Tharwat El-Kherbawy/Al-Watan/September 16, 2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on September 16/2026
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on September 16-17/2026
Farewell to Dory Camille Chamoun: A
Champion of Lebanese Sovereignty, Freedom, and Faith
Elias Bejjani/September 14, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157507/
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he may die,
yet shall he live." (John 11:25)
With hearts filled with faith in God's will and hope in the Resurrection, we bid
farewell today to a distinguished national and sovereign figure. We mourn the
passing of Dory Camille Chamoun, Honorary President of the National Liberal
Party, former Member of Parliament, former Minister, and former Mayor of Deir
el-Qamar, who has departed to the House of the Heavenly Father after a long life
of national struggle and unwavering commitment to the Lebanese cause.
Born in Deir el-Qamar in 1931, Dory Chamoun was raised in a household deeply
rooted in patriotism and public service. He was the son of Lebanon's late
President Camille Nimr Chamoun, one of the foremost leaders of Lebanese
independence and statehood, and of Mrs. Zelpha Chamoun. From an early age, he
embraced his family's national legacy and remained faithful to it throughout his
life.
Dory Chamoun was one of the pillars of the Chamoun political school and among
the principal figures who helped shape the journey of the National Liberal
Party, alongside his father, President Camille Chamoun, and his brother, the
late Dany Chamoun. Following his brother's assassination, he assumed the party's
leadership during exceptionally difficult times, preserving its historic
principles of freedom, sovereignty, independence, and democracy.
The late leader was known for his clear and steadfast national positions, never
compromising or wavering. He opposed the Palestinian armed presence and
occupation of Lebanon when many remained silent, courageously confronted Syrian
tutelage and domination, and later became one of the earliest and most
consistent voices opposing the Iranian project and its armed proxies in Lebanon.
He firmly believed that a single state and a single legitimate military
authority are indispensable foundations for a free, sovereign, and independent
Lebanon.
He played an active role in the Cedar Revolution and the March 14 Alliance,
remaining until his final years a sovereign voice defending Lebanon's unique
mission of pluralism, coexistence, freedom, and independence. He neither changed
his convictions nor yielded to political expediency. Instead, he remained loyal
to the principles upon which he was raised, convinced that truth is measured not
by the number of its supporters but by the justice of its cause.
From 1998 to 2008, he served as Mayor of Deir el-Qamar, working diligently to
preserve the town's rich historical heritage and to advance its development. He
later served as a Member of Parliament representing the Chouf District, carrying
the concerns of his constituents and his nation to the Lebanese Parliament while
consistently defending sovereignty, independence, and constitutional legitimacy.
Dory Chamoun was also a devoted husband and father. He leaves behind a respected
family that continues his national legacy, foremost among them his son Camille
Dory Chamoun, who today serves as President of the National Liberal Party and
represents its political tradition in Lebanon, carrying forward the torch passed
down through generations of this distinguished patriotic family.
Providence willed that Dory Chamoun depart this world on the anniversary of the
martyrdom of President-elect Bashir Gemayel, as though history wished once more
to unite men of sovereignty who shared the dream of a free, sovereign, and
independent Lebanon—a dream for which they paid a heavy price through sacrifice,
perseverance, and steadfastness.
With Dory Chamoun's passing, Lebanon closes a chapter in the history of a
generation of leaders who stood firm in the face of adversity and remained
faithful to their convictions. Yet the legacy he leaves behind will continue to
live on in the memory of free men and women and in the conscience of every
Lebanese who believes in Lebanon as the final homeland, free, sovereign, and
independent.
As Holy Scripture says:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
(2 Timothy 4:7)
Indeed, Dory Chamoun fought the good fight, completed his national mission with
faith and steadfastness, and preserved the trust he inherited from his father
and from the generation of Lebanon's independence leaders.
May Almighty God receive him into the dwellings of the righteous and the just,
and may He grant comfort and hope to his family, loved ones, the National
Liberal Party, and all those who walked beside him in the struggle for a free
Lebanon.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May
his soul, and the souls of all the righteous, rest in the peace of God's
heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Video Link to a superb English presentation fron JNS by
Israel ambassador to USA Yechiel Leiter the Israeli representative in the
Israeli-Lebanese peace talks
September 16/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157568/
Israel’s ambassador to Washington says Iran’s regime will fall…and when it does,
the entire Middle East could be transformed. In this explosive conversation with
JNS CEO Alex Traiman, Ambassador Yechiel Leiter reveals the extraordinary level
of U.S.-Israel coordination behind the war with Iran and says Israel is ready to
return to military action if necessary.
Leiter also sounds the alarm over Turkey’s growing regional ambitions, explains
Israel’s new post-October 7 defense doctrine and reveals why Israel will not
withdraw from Gaza or southern Lebanon until Hamas and Hezbollah are dismantled.
Plus, the ambassador discusses the future of U.S. military aid and delivers a
deeply personal message about Israeli unity after the death of his son fighting
Hamas.
**Elias Bejjani/Great ambassador, great interview. I support and agree on each
and every stance he adopted and shed light on. I wish we in Lebanon have a
politician from his caliber/Yes to peace with Israel
Salam government wins confidence vote for third time with
68 votes
LBCI/September 16/2026
Lebanon’s Parliament grants Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government confidence
for the third time, with 68 lawmakers voting in favor, 12 against, and two
abstaining.
Lebanese, Israeli ambassadors meet in Washington as Issa
visits south
Naharnet/September 16/2026
Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador to
the U.S. Yechiel Leiter held a meeting overnight in the presence of U.S. State
Department Counselor Daniel Holler. The meeting comes after a ninth round of
negotiations between Israel and Lebanon was delayed until October. Last month,
the United States had said the next round of talks in the Italian capital would
take place in early September.A U.S. official said the meeting between Hamadeh
and Leiter was "to discuss ongoing developments and the continued
implementation" of a framework deal agreed in June.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut meanwhile said that U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel
Issa visited southern Lebanon on Tuesday to assess conditions on the ground and
see firsthand the progress and challenges in the pilot zones. “The United States
remains committed to supporting the Government of Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed
Forces in strengthening state authority, protecting civilians, providing
services, and creating conditions that help bring about lasting peace and
stability,” the Embassy said. “We will continue to work with all relevant
parties to support a more secure and stable southern Lebanon,” it added.
Issa for his part said: "My visit to southern Lebanon allowed me to witness
firsthand the challenges facing its communities. I deeply sympathize with
residents who have endured displacement and uncertainty, and I understand their
urgent desire to return home and rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.”
Israeli force blows up house in Halta, abducts resident
Naharnet/September 16/2026
An Israeli force on Wednesday made an incursion into the southern town of Halta,
where it blew up the house of the resident Abdallah Hatem Abdel-Al and kidnapped
a resident.The area had earlier been targeted by three Israeli artillery shells.
South Lebanon: Latest developments
Naharnet/September 16/2026
Israeli forces carried out detonations on Wednesday in the southern border towns
of Teeri and al-Mansouri while artillery shelled overnight into Wednesday
Kfartebnit, Marjaayoun, Baraashit, and Wadi Zebqine. Israeli strikes meanwhile
targeted Wadi Zebqine and a region between Mayfadoun and Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh.
Washington: We continue to support the dialogue track between Lebanon and Israel
Al-Markazia/September 16, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by AI from Arabic)
The U.S. Department of State confirmed today, Wednesday, that the United States
continues to support dialogue between Lebanon and Israel, stressing the
importance of continuing contacts and the negotiation track to reach
understandings that contribute to enhancing stability and peace. The State
Department said in statements to "Al Arabiya English" that the trilateral
framework represents the path toward achieving peace between Israel and Lebanon.
The U.S. State Department also clarified that the ambassadors of Lebanon and
Israel discussed yesterday the next round of negotiations, as part of efforts
aimed at pushing the negotiation track between the two countries. This meeting
coincided with the postponement of a round of negotiations between Israel and
Lebanon, which was scheduled to be held this week in the Italian capital, Rome,
to next October. These statements came as Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar
affirmed that "Lebanon is committed to the option of direct negotiations with
Israel under the sponsorship of the United States of America in order to secure
the Israeli withdrawal from the south and the deployment of the Lebanese Army
and the return of residents to their villages." The minister pointed out in
statements to Al Arabiya.net / Al Hadath.net that "the situation in the region
is tense and affects Lebanon." He added: "We have taken a decision to follow a
special track of negotiations with Israel."In turn, Lebanese President Joseph
Aoun said in an interview with "France Presse" that Lebanon is seeking a
security agreement with Israel aimed at ending the state of "hostility" between
the two countries, stressing that his country has no other option but direct
negotiations to prevent any new war. In parallel, the Lebanese President
stressed that the state is determined to move forward with its decision to
monopolize weapons, but without a "clash" with Hezbollah. Aoun confirmed that
the state went "to the option of negotiation because it is the least costly
option," while reversing the negotiations is war, and its cost will be great on
us.
Israel pledges to prevent Hezbollah's military return to south of the Litani
Riyadh - Al Arabiya.net / September 16, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by AI from
Arabic)
The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Eyal Zamir, affirmed that Israel is
determined to "strip the area located south of the Litani of the military
presence" of Hezbollah, in parallel with continuing to push for disarming the
party, warning against allowing it to rebuild its strength or restore its
military capabilities and establish infrastructure in the area.Zamir said on
Wednesday, during a visit to Division 91 in the northern region, that achieving
this goal within the framework of any agreement with the Lebanese government
requires a significant improvement in the effectiveness of the Lebanese Army on
the ground. He also added that "the battle is not over yet," indicating that the
Israeli army has achieved "important operational achievements" and weakened
Hezbollah's capabilities, but he stressed that challenges still remain and that
the battlefield is witnessing rapid changes. In the same context, an Israeli
military official said that Israeli forces will remain in southern Lebanon until
a change occurs in the security reality, noting that Israel will not withdraw
from the area as long as the threat of "Hezbollah" remains. The official added
that what is required from Lebanon is to declare the south free of Hezbollah
militants, and that the Lebanese Army must dismantle any organization not
subject to the Lebanese government. The official also pointed out that Hezbollah
is trying to regain its strength, accusing the party of working to bring
missiles and drones from Iran and its proxies. Meanwhile, he said Israel
believes there are underground sites belonging to Hezbollah north of the Yellow
Line that have not been dealt with, adding that the entry of the Lebanese Army
into the Ali al-Taher area is still under discussion at the political level.
Following a devastating war fought by Hezbollah and Israel for more than a year
and ended with a ceasefire in November 2024, the Lebanese government approved a
plan to disarm the party, which stipulated restricting weapons to legitimate
forces, and tasked the army with implementing it. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, backed
by Tehran, refuses to disarm and direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.
On June 26 last, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed in Washington a "framework formula"
under American sponsorship, stipulating a gradual Israeli withdrawal from
Lebanese territories and the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the areas from
which Israeli forces withdraw. But despite signing the "framework formula,"
Israel continues its attacks on southern Lebanon, and still occupies areas in
the south, some for decades and others it took control of during recent military
operations.
Violent explosions shake the South.. and Israeli withdrawal
from Halta after kidnapping a citizen
Al-Markazia / September 16, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by AI from Arabic)
This evening, a loud explosion was heard, echoing violently in the Nabatieh
area, resulting from an Israeli enemy detonation in Zoutar al-Sharqiyeh carried
out in 3 waves. The Israeli enemy carried out a combing operation with heavy
machine guns on the outskirts of the town of Haddatha. It also carried out
violent explosions in the town of Al-Mansouri in the Tyre district, causing
strong tremors in neighboring villages, while artillery was shelling the town of
Haddatha with heavy shells. It also carried out a violent explosion in the Wadi
Muzlim area in Beit Lif, Bint Jbeil district. Violent explosions were also
reported in Kfartebnit and the vicinity of the Litani riverbed in Zoutar al-Sharqiyeh.
A Merkava tank targeted the town of Kfartebnit with several shells. The towns of
Majdal Zoun and Al-Mansouri and the neighboring valleys were subjected this
evening to violent artillery shelling. Also, an Israeli Merkava tank stationed
in the vicinity of Beaufort Castle fired a direct shell towards the vicinity of
Ali al-Taher hill in the Nabatieh area. Israeli warplanes also raided this
afternoon targeting Nabatieh al-Fawqa, but the missile did not explode. It
raided again targeting the area located between the towns of Arnoun and
Kfartebnit. Enemy artillery shelled the outskirts of the town of Beit Lif, in
Bint Jbeil district. In addition, the town of Al-Mansouri in Tyre district was
subjected to 155 mm artillery shelling, with shells hitting the center of the
town. Enemy artillery also shelled the towns of Beit Yahoun and Aita al-Jabal in
Bint Jbeil district. Fires were reported to have broken out in the forests and
some houses in the town of Beit Yahoun, in Bint Jbeil district, after the
hostile shelling that targeted the town. Israeli forces carried out violent
explosions in the town of Al-Tiri towards the town of Kounine in Bint Jbeil
district, causing strong tremors. They also carried out violent explosions in
the town of Al-Mansouri south of Tyre, resulting in strong tremors in
neighboring villages. It was reported that the Israeli army withdrew from Halta,
with information about the kidnapping of citizen Fadi Abdel Aal. Information had
reported an incursion by an Israeli patrol into the farm of Halta - Hasbaya
district, with a bulldozing operation of olive groves in the area. According to
information also, patrol members searched a number of houses, with combing
operations with machine guns towards the area. The Israeli army also blew up two
houses in the Al-Suhr neighborhood in the border farm of Halta and the town was
shelled with 3 mortar shells. Earlier, Israeli forces had vandalized houses in
Halta and smashed solar panels located on the ground and on the roofs of
buildings. A mortar shell targeted the vicinity of houses in the town of Halta.
The Israeli army targeted the outskirts of the town of Kfarchouba with an
artillery shell, as well as targeting Kfartebnit in Nabatieh. At dawn, the
Israeli army had carried out successive explosions in the town of Al-Mansouri,
targeting more houses and valleys.
Meeting of the leaderships of Amal and Hezbollah.. to
defuse tension between the bases of the two parties?
Lara Yazbek / Al-Markazia / September 16, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by AI
from Arabic)
Al-Markazia - Hezbollah and the Amal Movement called for dealing with the
current stage "with high national responsibility," stressing that civil peace is
"a red line and a shared national responsibility." In a statement issued after
their meeting on Monday, represented by the head of the Executive Council of
Hezbollah, Sheikh Ali Damoush, and the head of the Executive Authority of the
Amal Movement, Mustafa Al-Fouani, the leaderships of the party and the movement
affirmed that "national partnership and coexistence constitute a basic
foundation for protecting Lebanon," renewing their rejection of "any political
approach based on exclusion or domination or imposing faits accomplis".. And
they called for "keeping differences and disagreements within their political
and constitutional framework, in a way that preserves the interests of the
Lebanese and safeguards the state and its institutions," stressing that civil
peace is "a red line and a shared national responsibility with rejection of all
forms of incitement, tension, and sedition." The two leaderships also affirmed
that addressing contentious issues "is not done in the language of escalation,
but rather through dialogue, understanding, and recourse to institutions, in a
way that prevents slipping into what threatens civil peace and increases the
burdens of the Lebanese." This meeting and what was issued from it came in a
remarkable time context, according to what sovereign political sources tell "Al-Markazia".
A few days before it, member of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc MP Hussein
Hajj Hassan was threatening the state, and therefore the Lebanese who support
its choices and reject Hezbollah's choices, with his anger and the anger of his
people, warning that the party's patience has limits. Does the statement
indicate a rejection by the Amal Movement of this threatening discourse, and
that it succeeded in convincing the party to move away from it? For this talk is
today what threatens civil peace, and nothing else.. But more importantly,
according to sources, is that the meeting comes while there is talk of
disagreements that have begun to appear on the ground, between supporters of
Amal and Hezbollah, especially in Nabatieh, where supporters of the Movement
have become fed up with the military presence of the party, which in their
opinion has become a bringer of bombing and raids and has nothing to do with
protection or liberation.. There is much talk that the people of the south and
Nabatieh now want only the state and no longer trust the party. Hence, the
participation of Development and Liberation Bloc member MP Nasser Jaber in
receiving President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun in Nabatieh, while all
Hezbollah MPs were absent. Have cracks begun to appear in the base of the duo?
And did the meeting of the two leaderships take place to mend the rift and
defuse congestion between the grassroots of the two sides, before its goal is
anything else?
The "Foreign Ministry" condemned the attack on Mecca: A
flagrant violation of the sanctity of the holiest Islamic places
Al-Markazia / September 16, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by AI from Arabic)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned in a statement "in the
strongest terms the attempt by the Houthi militia to target the city of Mecca
with a drone," denouncing "this sinful attack which constitutes a flagrant
violation of the sanctity of the holiest Islamic places, and a blatant
infringement on the status of the Two Holy Mosques and their symbolism for
Muslims around the world." And it expressed its "full solidarity with the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and standing by its side in facing any aggression
targeting its security and the safety of its territories and its holy sites,"
stressing "the necessity of respecting the sanctity of holy places and sparing
them any hostile acts, in a way that preserves peace and security, and enhances
mutual respect between religions and peoples."And it affirmed that "targeting
Mecca, or exposing it, its people and its visitors to any danger, not only
contradicts Islamic values and principles, but also constitutes an attack on the
system of shared religious, moral, and human values, which enshrines the
sanctity of houses of worship and holy places and preserves their status."
Joseoh Aoun heads to Paris for talks and army aid preparatory meeting
Naharnet/September 16/2026
President Joseph Aoun left for Paris on Wednesday, meeting an invitation from
French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the general situation in Lebanon and
the region, as well as bilateral relations between the two countries. Aoun will
on Thursday join Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan for the opening of the
preparatory meeting for the international conference in support of the Lebanese
Army and security forces.
Joseph Aoun wants Israel security deal, Hezbollah
disarmament without confrontation
Agence France Presse/September 16/2026
President Joseph Aoun told AFP that Lebanon wants a new force, from Europe or
elsewhere, to avoid a security "vacuum" in the south when U.N. peacekeepers
leave at the end of the year. "What matters is that there is no vacuum," he told
AFP in an interview on Tuesday. He added that any new force for Lebanon's south,
part of which is occupied by Israel, would be "temporary until the (Lebanese)
army can deploy".Aoun said he wants a security deal with Israel as a possible
prelude to a peace agreement once it leaves the country's south, and that he is
determined to disarm Hezbollah without a confrontation. Aoun told AFP in an
interview on Tuesday that he wants a security agreement with Israel "primarily
to end the state of hostility and the deployment of the army on the border. This
could be a prelude to a later peace agreement, but we cannot jump directly to a
peace agreement".
Hezbollah MPs, rivals clash in parliament over Israel
Naharnet/September 16/2026
The second day of a general parliamentary debate session witnessed renewed
verbal clashes between lawmakers from Hezbollah and political rivals.“Go check
what the Israelis said about Ali al-Taher. Shame on you,” MP Ihab Hamadeh of
Hezbollah told his political foes, prompting MP Waddah Sadek to say, “Go check
who brought the Israelis into the country!”“Go to hell … Shut up!” Hamadeh
snapped back.“Go check the lies you have told the people,” Sadek responded. The
quarrel drew an intervention from MP Ziad Hawat of the Lebanese Forces, who told
Hamadeh: “Enough with showing off. Go show off in front of the Israelis.”Hamadeh
later called the rival MPs “the cronies of Israel,” which prompted Hawat to say:
“You have brought Israel into the country. You have destroyed the country, you
have destroyed the south … No one is afraid of you anymore.”
“What a shame,” Speaker Nabih Berri said, commenting on the clash. MP Halima
Qaaqour of the Change bloc meanwhile said the framework agreement signed with
Israel is “shameful,” while stressing that she supports the monopolization of
arms in the hands of the state. “Is this how we negotiate? Is this a framework
agreement that can be defended? It contradicts with all values of sovereignty
and justice and it legitimizes occupation,” she lamented. “You have deprived the
people of the south of justice by depriving them of getting compensations from
the enemy,” Qaaqour added. MP Pierre Bou Assi of the Lebanese Forces meanwhile
told PM Nawaf Salam: “I fear for your government, because in these circumstances
if it falls, any consecutive government that comes will not be able to govern.”
Beirut port blast investigation: Why was Michel Aoun’s name
included in the Public Prosecution’s submission?
LBCI/September 16/2026
Six years of obstacles did not prevent the investigation into the Beirut port
explosion from being completed or the issuance of the Public Prosecution’s
submission. What is surprising is not the issuance of the submission, but its
conclusions regarding responsibility. For the first time, former President
Michel Aoun’s name has entered the scope of responsibility after Prosecutor
General at the Court of Cassation Mohammad Saab deemed Aoun criminally
responsible for his knowledge of the presence of ammonium nitrate, raising the
need to determine what measures he took.Notably, investigating judge Tarek Bitar
did not meet with Aoun throughout the years of the investigation, nor did he
request to question him even as a witness, while he questioned former prime
ministers as well as security and political officials.Why, then, was Aoun’s name
brought into the case at this stage? And why was his name specifically leaked
out of the 73 individuals and Lebanese and foreign companies that the Public
Prosecution held responsible? It should be noted that Parliament is the only
body authorized to accuse the president of the republic of any crime, whether
during or after his term in office. If accused, the president is referred to the
Supreme Council for the Trial of Presidents and Ministers. The leak of Aoun’s
name prompted him to file a criminal complaint against an unknown person over
alleged offenses including fabricating misleading information, defamation and
breaching the confidentiality of the investigation. However, according to the
263-page submission, the Public Prosecution laid out the facts of the case and
identified the powers and responsibilities of politicians, judges and security
chiefs before reaching its conclusions on responsibility. It also sought to
answer a number of questions that have remained the subject of debate since the
August 4, 2020 explosion: Was what happened an explosion or a deliberate
detonation? Was Israel involved? Was the blast caused by a missile? How much
ammonium nitrate exploded, and who was involved in bringing it into the country
and storing it? Judge Mohammad Saab also laid out the facts related to the
security agencies, including the Lebanese army, customs, and General Security,
in chronological order, and examined the responsibility of figures whose names
had appeared in the media but who had not been summoned for questioning. As for
the defendants, the Public Prosecution requested that proceedings be dropped
against a limited number of them.The 17 detainees released by Judge Ghassan
Oueidat remain a notable omission. Oueidat ordered their release after
investigating judge Tarek Bitar had rejected their requests for release, in what
was viewed as a response to Bitar’s legal action against him. The Public
Prosecution did not address their status. However, the Public Prosecution’s
submission is not binding on the investigating judge. He will review its
contents, but the final decision rests with him. According to LBCI information,
he will refrain from taking decisions concerning the 17 detainees released by
Oueidat, as well as figures he recently questioned and against whom he had
previously delayed taking measures.After completing this process, he will refer
the case to the Judicial Council, with this expected to take place between now
and the end of the year.
Aoun meets Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Paris, discusses
support for Lebanon
LBCI/September 16/2026
President Joseph Aoun began his meetings shortly after arriving in the French
capital on Wednesday afternoon, visiting Jordan’s King Abdullah II at his hotel.
During the meeting, Aoun condemned the recent attacks targeting Jordan and
thanked the king for Jordan’s support for the Lebanese army and its efforts to
organize an international conference to support the Lebanese army and Internal
Security Forces. Aoun also expressed his gratitude for the aid Jordan provided
to Lebanon following Israeli attacks.The two sides discussed bilateral relations
following the signing of 21 agreements and memorandums of understanding after
the two countries’ Joint Higher Committee met in January. Aoun called for
efforts to implement the agreements. King Abdullah reaffirmed Jordan’s continued
support for Lebanon and condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory. He also
voiced support for Lebanon’s efforts to achieve security and stability,
particularly the ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the state of war with
Israel. Aoun and King Abdullah agreed to maintain communication and coordinate
their positions.
Aoun in Paris: Strengthening Lebanon’s military and
security institutions is a top priority
LBCI/September 16/2026
President Joseph Aoun expressed his deep appreciation for France, its president,
government and people, upon his arrival in Paris, thanking them for their
continued support for Lebanon and its constitutional, military and security
institutions. Aoun said the historic partnership between the two countries has
taken on exceptional importance amid the challenges facing Lebanon. He stressed
that the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces, along with the other
security agencies, are the only guarantees for protecting the country, its
sovereignty and the security of its citizens. Strengthening their human and
logistical capabilities, he said, has become a top national priority requiring
concerted efforts from Lebanon’s international partners. Aoun said his
participation in the preparatory meeting for the international conference France
will host to support the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces reflects the
Lebanese state’s commitment to extending its authority, placing weapons under
the control of the legitimate state and building a strong state capable of
protecting its citizens and safeguarding regional stability. Regarding his
scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, Aoun said
discussions will cover the preparatory meeting, the situation in Lebanon,
particularly in the south amid continued Israeli attacks on southern villages
and towns, the period following the end of the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon’s mission, known as UNIFIL, as well as the course of Lebanese-U.S.-Israeli
negotiations and developments in the region. Aoun also praised Jordan’s King
Abdullah II for his role in supporting Lebanon and his various initiatives in
this regard, including the preparatory meeting to be held in the French capital.
Asked about Lebanon’s position on the attempted targeting of Mecca, Aoun said he
had followed with deep concern developments surrounding the attempted attack on
Mecca, describing it as an assault that not only targets Saudi Arabia but also
violates the sanctity of holy sites that hold religious significance for Muslims
around the world. Aoun said targeting holy sites, regardless of the
justifications or political calculations behind it, constitutes a violation of
religious and humanitarian norms and requires a unified Arab and Islamic
position to put an end to such practices, which threaten regional security and
stability. He expressed Lebanon’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, its
leadership, government, and people, and praised the vigilance of its armed
forces in confronting the threat and protecting pilgrims and residents in the
vicinity of the holy sites.
Aoun: Lebanon Wants Israel Security Deal, Hezbollah
Disarmament Without Confrontation
Beirut: Asharq Al Awsat/16 September 2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told AFP in an exclusive interview he wants to
reach a security agreement with Israel once it withdraws from the south, and is
determined to disarm Hezbollah without resorting to confrontation. Speaking
ahead of his departure to France on Wednesday, Aoun said Lebanon wanted a new
force, European or otherwise, to prevent a security vacuum after UN peacekeepers
leave south Lebanon when their mandate expires at the end of the year. He called
on the United States, European Union and Arab countries to support Lebanon's
military as it deploys across the south.
In Paris, Aoun will attend a meeting hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and
attended by King Abdullah II of Jordan to build international support for
Lebanese troops as they deploy across the country. "What matters is that there
is no vacuum," Aoun told AFP on Tuesday. He added that any new force for
Lebanon's south, part of which is occupied by Israel, would be "temporary until
the (Lebanese) army can deploy." "Whatever the nature of this force, that poses
no problem for me: European, non-European, American, another United Nations
force, Asian, or even a mix of European, Arab and Asian forces," Aoun said. "The
best and most optimal option remains extending UNIFIL's mandate," he added.
Under US pressure, the UN Security Council voted last year to end the force's
mandate on December 31, 2026. The mission, currently involving around 8,500
peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries, has been deployed in south Lebanon since
1978. Aoun also said he wants a security agreement with Israel "primarily to end
the state of hostility and the deployment of the army on the border. This could
be a prelude to a later peace agreement, but we cannot jump directly to a peace
agreement."
"We have no choice but negotiations, because the alternative is war, which would
be very costly for us," Aoun added. "Our Arab and European partners, as well as
the United States and our friends, must share with us the responsibility of
supporting the army and strengthening the Lebanese state," he said. Aoun
reiterated Lebanon was determined to disarm Hezbollah, saying the decision was
"neither negotiable nor open to discussion."However, he said, "the objective is
not a confrontation... We are determined to resolve this issue peacefully. "This
is not about building a state at the cost of a bloody conflict... or a new civil
war."Aoun said he had told Iran that after Hezbollah's disarmament, relations
"must be based on mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of
the Lebanese people. "We have no problem with having a relationship with Iran,
but we do have a problem with interference in our internal affairs."
Lebanon wants Israel security deal as prelude to peace:
president to AFP
AFP//September 16, 2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told AFP in an exclusive interview he wants a
security agreement with Israel once it withdraws its troops as a possible
prelude to peace, and is determined to disarm Hezbollah without a confrontation.
Speaking ahead of his departure to France on Wednesday, President Joseph Aoun
said Lebanon wanted a new force, European or otherwise, to prevent a security
vacuum after UN peacekeepers leave south Lebanon when their mandate expires at
the end of the year. He called on the United States, European Union and Arab
countries to support Lebanon's military as it deploys across the country.
Lebanon under Aoun has committed to disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah, which
dragged the country into the wider Middle East war by attacking Israel earlier
this year. Aoun said he wants a security agreement with Israel "primarily to end
the state of hostility and the deployment of the army on the border. This could
be a prelude to a later peace agreement, but we cannot jump directly to a peace
agreement". "We have no choice but negotiations, because the alternative is war,
which would be very costly for us," he added. In Paris, Aoun will attend a
meeting hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and attended by King Abdullah II of
Jordan to build international support for Lebanese troops as they deploy across
the country. "Our Arab and European partners, as well as the United States and
our friends, must share with us the responsibility of supporting the army and
strengthening the Lebanese state," he said.Aoun reiterated Lebanon was
determined to disarm Hezbollah, saying the decision was "neither negotiable nor
open to discussion". Hezbollah has long maintained a massive arsenal that it has
used to fight repeated wars with Israel, while exerting an outsized role in
Lebanese politics. Critics have accused the Iran-backed militants of keeping
Lebanon locked in a cycle of violence, while preventing the state from
functioning fully across the country.Speaking to AFP, Aoun struck a conciliatory
tone in his remarks on Hezbollah and the push to disarm it. "The objective is
not a confrontation," he said. "We are determined to resolve this issue
peacefully. "This is not about building a state at the cost of a bloody
conflict... or a new civil war." Decades on from the end of a civil war that
killed 150,000 people, Lebanon remains deeply divided and still lives under the
spectre of internal conflict.
'No vacuum' -
Aoun said he had told Iran that relations "must be based on mutual respect and
non-interference in the internal affairs of the Lebanese people. "We have no
problem with having a relationship with Iran, but we do have a problem with
interference in our internal affairs." Under US pressure, the UN Security
Council voted last year to end the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in south
Lebanon on December 31, 2026. UNIFIL, currently involving around 7,500
peacekeepers from nearly 50 countries, has been deployed since 1978. "What
matters is that there is no vacuum," Aoun told AFP on Tuesday. He added that any
new force for Lebanon's south, part of which is occupied by Israel, would be
"temporary until the (Lebanese) army can deploy". "Whatever the nature of this
force, that poses no problem for me: European, non-European, American, another
United Nations force, Asian, or even a mix of European, Arab and Asian forces,"
Aoun said. He has repeatedly urged the international community to extend the
mandate of the peacekeepers, who have witnessed war after war in south Lebanon
since the mission was first deployed. "The best and most optimal option remains
extending UNIFIL's mandate," he added. Asked about Israel's upcoming election,
Aoun said it was an internal matter. "But the question we want to ask the
Israeli people, the State of Israel and all future governments is the following:
do they want stability, security and no wars on their border, or not?" he said.
Michel Aoun files complaint over reports implicating him in
port blast case
Naharnet/September 16/2026
Former President Michel Aoun, represented by lawyer Wadih Akl, on Wednesday
filed a criminal complaint, after media reports said the public prosecution has
requested that he be indicted over the 2020 Beirut port explosion. In the
complaint Aoun accused certain parties of "insult, defamation, slander, false
accusation, breach of investigation confidentiality and fabrication of
falsehoods. “In cases stained by blood, a rumor is not merely casual speech;
rather, it constitutes a fresh act of aggression against the victims and an
attempt to assassinate the truth before it reaches the sanctuary of justice,”
Aoun said.
“The dissemination of rumors regarding the Beirut Port explosion -- under the
guise of ‘judicial leaks’ purportedly drawn from the submissions of the Public
Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation -- cannot be considered a legitimate media
activity. If the leak is genuine, it raises suspicions of a breach of
investigation confidentiality; if it is false, it raises suspicions of
fabricating and spreading false news,” Aoun noted. “In either case, we are
facing a grave infringement upon the proper administration of justice, an
attempt to distort facts, a move to obscure the true perpetrators, and an effort
to manufacture a media-driven conviction outside the judicial process,” he said.
A Lebanese prosecutor on Tuesday requested that Aoun be indicted over the blast,
asking the judge overseeing the case, Tarek Bitar, to "press charges against
(former) president Aoun," a judicial official told Agence France-Presse,
requesting anonymity. The official added that charges were being sought against
Aoun because he "had prior knowledge of the presence of ammonium nitrate at the
port and its danger, without taking the necessary measures" or referring it to
the country's Higher Defense Council. The massive explosion on August 4, 2020
killed more than 220 people, injured more than 6,500 and laid waste to swathes
of the capital. Lebanese authorities have said the explosion was triggered by a
fire in a warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer had been stored
haphazardly for years, despite repeated warnings to senior officials.Nobody has
been punished for the blast despite public anger and families of the blast
victims demanding justice in a country long plagued by official impunity. In
March, a judicial official told AFP that judge Bitar had completed his probe. He
referred the case to the public prosecutor who was to study it, and prosecutor
Mohammad Saab submitted his review on Tuesday, the official said. The review
specified the responsibility of more than 70 defendants, including current and
former politicians, security and military officials, and civil servants, some of
whom were previously charged by Bitar. The charges remain up to Bitar, who could
issue them in the coming weeks. The case had been bogged down by political and
legal wrangling since 2023, after Hezbollah led a campaign demanding Bitar's
removal and dozens of lawsuits also sought to remove him from the case. However,
Bitar resumed his investigations last year as Lebanon's balance of power
shifted. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam took office
following a 2023-2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah, which weakened the
Lebanese armed group. Since then, several legal impediments to Bitar's work have
also been removed, including the lifting of a travel ban against him.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on September 16-17/2026
Iran is pushing Gulf states toward
Israel: The secret talks and the forming coalition
Itamar Eichner/Ynet news/September15/2026
Behind the scenes, a new regional reality is taking shape: Arab countries are
showing willingness to join the US-led coalition against Iran and are no longer
ruling out cooperation with Israel, whose aid to the Emirates has become an
example
In recent weeks, a significant shift has been taking place behind the scenes in
the Middle East: Gulf states are increasingly coming to the conclusion that Iran
and its proxies can no longer be allowed to act with impunity, and that a joint
regional effort is needed to confront them. For the first time, Arab states are
showing willingness to take part in a form of U.S.-led coalition, and within
that framework they are no longer ruling out cooperation with Israel.
Trump administration plans to sell Israel $2.8 billion powerful bombs
Associated Press/September 16/2026
The Trump administration is planning to deliver powerful 2,000-pound bombs to
Israel as part of an upcoming arms deal, weapons that prompted such concerns
about the possibility of mass casualties in Gaza that the Biden administration
paused their delivery two years ago.
The $2.8 billion package includes 40,000 of the bombs, made up of 20,000 Mk84s
and 20,000 BLU-117s, according to two U.S. officials and a person familiar with
the plan who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss the package,
which is not yet final.
Congress has been informally notified about the pending deal, most of which is
to be paid for with foreign military financing — in which U.S. taxpayer dollars
are given to Israel to turn around and buy the weapons from the United States.
The proposed sale is just the latest in a series of Trump administration steps
to improve Israeli's military capacity. The conflict in Gaza has left tens of
thousands of Palestinians dead and has decimated the enclave. The U.S. brokered
a fragile ceasefire, but violence has continued. The package, which was reported
earlier by The Washington Post, comes as Israel has faced increasing
international isolation over its war in Gaza in response to the deadly Oct. 7,
2023, attacks by Hamas.The sale signals that some strains in the relationship
between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
especially since the two countries launched the war against Iran in February,
are not impeding the closeness of the U.S.-Israeli alliance. Trump has had a
hot-and-cold history with Netanyahu over the years and expressed some
frustration with Netanyahu tied to the Iran conflict before their latest meeting
in July at the White House. In 2024, the Biden administration held off on one
shipment of the bombs, but Trump lifted that hold when he took office again.
Last year, the Trump administration bypassed a normal congressional review
process and approved a nearly $3 billion sale to Israel that included more than
35,500 of the bombs. The administration then approved a new series of arms sales
to Israel totaling $6.67 billion in January. The 2,000-pound bombs have multiple
variants, with some designed to penetrate deep, underground targets while others
detonate above ground and cause widespread damage. Though the Israeli military
has offered few details about what bombs and artillery it has used in Gaza,
experts analyzing strike footage and blast fragments found on-site believe the
U.S.-made bombs have been used there, targeting a tunnel network used by Hamas
but also killing of people in densely populated areas. While the heaviest
fighting in Gaza has subsided since the fragile ceasefire took hold in October,
Israel has continued to carry out strikes in the territory, including some
overnight and into Tuesday that killed several people. That is even after Jared
Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a key Mideast negotiator, met with Netanyahu
last month in an effort to push the ceasefire deal forward and asked Israel to
reduce its attacks. Militants have carried out shooting attacks on Israeli
troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to those and other ceasefire
violations. The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in 2023 killed around 1,200
people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel's offensive in Gaza to retaliate has
killed more than 73,264 Palestinians, including those killed since the
ceasefire, Gaza's Health Ministry said.
Netanyahu’s party seeks to impede Israeli expat voting in
upcoming close-fought elections
AFP/6 September ,2026
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party on Wednesday petitioned the electoral
commission to block initiatives aimed at helping Israelis who live abroad return
to vote in upcoming close-fought elections. Israel’s electoral law does not
allow citizens residing outside the country to vote abroad, except for diplomats
and emissaries sent by certain organisations. The Central Bureau of Statistics
estimates there are 600,000 Israelis living abroad. Government opponents have
been working for several weeks to encourage voters to come home to cast their
ballots, hoping to strengthen the anti-Netanyahu camp in elections scheduled for
October 27.Initiatives include offering discounted plane tickets, assisting
expatriates with the administrative procedures required to vote and organizing
their transport from the airport. Attorney Ilan Bombach, representing
Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, filed an appeal on Wednesday with the
chairman of the Central Elections Committee demanding an end to these practices.
The petition specifically targets the US-based AID Coalition, an organization
which says it is aimed at “strengthening and preserving the democratic
foundations of the State of Israel” and is behind the “Fly&Vote” scheme. The
petition also targets the opposition Democrats party. In his appeal, seen by AFP,
Bombach likens these methods to an “electoral bribe” and argues that they
violate the law on party financing. Likud maintains that even if the passengers
themselves pay for their plane tickets, the “Fly&Vote” scheme grants illicit
benefits, such as discounted fares negotiated with airlines through group
bookings. The AID Coalition, which says it is an apolitical organization, said
it had received and would examine the appeal from Likud. It accused the party of
seeking “to prevent Israeli citizens -- those who took a plane to come and fight
on October 7, who pay taxes and are involved in the life of their homeland --
from being granted the right and duty to take part in deciding the future of the
State of Israel.” According to polls, the elections are expected to be tightly
contested between the bloc led by Netanyahu and that of his main rival, centrist
Gadi Eisenkot.
US Treasury gathers global financial institutions to
advance Iran sanctions
LBCI/Reuters/September 16/2026
The U.S. Treasury said on Wednesday its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
had convened a meeting of global financial institutions to advance Operation
Economic Outcast, its recent push to isolate Tehran and limit its ability to
fund the war in the Middle East.
"The event armed financial institutions with the information they need to shut
down revenue streams and procurement networks tied to the Iranian regime,"
Treasury said in a statement.
US Fed makes quarter-point rate hike over high inflation
LBCI/September 16/2026
The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points Wednesday, its
first hike in three years as the central bank battles high inflation with a move
sure to anger President Donald Trump.The Fed's Federal Open Market Committee
voted unanimously to raise rates to between 3.75 percent and 4.00 percent,
citing "elevated" inflation. It added that the rate hike would support a
"timelier return" to its two-percent target for the metric. AFP
Katz says Israel will 'finish job' in Gaza and remove
Palestinians
Agence France Presse/September 16/2026
Israel's defense minister said Wednesday it was only a matter of time before
Israel resumes full-scale war in Gaza and moves to force out its two million
Palestinians. Israel Katz, who is known for outspoken remarks, was responding to
criticism from another right-wing contender ahead of October 27 elections. Katz
said 70 percent of Gaza had already been emptied of its population in the
Israeli offensive launched after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.He said
that an October 2025 ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump had
"supreme value for all Israelis" by leading to the return of remaining hostages
and ensuring "a commitment by the United States" to disarming Hamas. "We all
understand that this is not going to happen -- and the IDF is prepared, once
given the directive to eliminate Hamas, to finish the job so that we can also
implement the migration plan," Katz said in a statement, referring to the
Israeli military. He said earlier this month that Israel was ready to remove
Palestinians from Gaza by sea and land but was waiting for the United States,
which he said was discussing where the two million people would go. U.S.
Ambassador Mike Huckabee has denied any plan to "displace people out of Gaza
against their will." Katz had described the migration plan as voluntary, saying
most Palestinians wanted to leave. Nearly all of Gaza's population has been
internally displaced and most of the territory lies in rubble after the war. The
Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023 killed 1,221 people, according to an AFP
tally based on Israeli official figures, the deadliest attack ever against
Israel.Militants also took 251 hostages to Gaza. Israel's retaliatory military
campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,700 people, according to the
territory's health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and does not
distinguish between combatants and civilians, and whose figures are considered
reliable by the United Nations. While the 11-month-old ceasefire has reduced the
level of violence, Israel has still regularly carried out strikes in Gaza. A
total of 1,375 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into
effect, according to the Gaza health ministry.Hamas said in late July that it
was ready to disarm, in what Trump hailed as a breakthrough. Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the latest stage of the plan and said
there would be no Israeli withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas verifiably
decommissions all weapons.
US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the
weekend, sources say
Reuters/16 September ,2026
US officials met representatives of Yemen’s Houthis in Oman over the weekend,
five sources familiar with the matter said. The meeting, which has not been made
public, was held at the US Embassy in Muscat, three of the sources said on the
condition of anonymity. Two sources said that Oman’s government, a longtime
regional mediator, helped organize the meeting. The Trump administration
designated the Houthis a “foreign terrorist organization” in March 2025,
criminalizing support for the group. But Washington has negotiated with them
since, reaching a ceasefire in May last year after bombing the group for two
months to halt a campaign of attacks on Red Sea shipping. In the meeting, which
one source said took place on Sunday, the Houthis told US officials that they
had no intention of attacking American vessels and that they were committed to
the 2025 ceasefire with the US, two sources said. one of the sources, a Yemeni,
said the militia group also said they would not attack Israeli ships. According
to two of the sources, the US side was represented by embassy personnel. One of
those sources said the Houthi delegation included a senior official based in
Muscat who is under US sanctions, Mohammad Abdulsalam. Another source confirmed
Abdulsalam’s presence along with that of another senior Houthi official,
Abdelmalik al-Ajiri. Asked whether the US had met with the Houthis in Oman, a
State Department spokesperson did not confirm the meeting, but said safeguarding
freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism from
the Middle East were core US interests. Oman’s embassy in the US and senior
Houthi official Abdulsalam did not respond to a request for comment.
Pakistan says Mecca Defense Alliance could expand, stresses
pact not aimed at Iran
Al Arabiya English/16 September ,2026
Pakistan’s military said the defense alliance with Saudi Arabia and Turkey could
expand to include new partners, while stressing that the pact is defensive in
nature and does not affect Islamabad’s relations with Iran. Lieutenant General
Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan’s army spokesperson, said in an interview with
Al Arabiya English’s Tom Burges Watson that the agreement could “always
encompass new willing partners” that share the three countries’ vision of
non-aggression, non-interference and collective deterrence.He said any decision
over how or when the alliance might expand would be for the leadership of Saudi
Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey to make. Chaudhry also rejected suggestions that the
agreement represented the creation of a broader Muslim military bloc. “There’s
nothing in this agreement which says that it’s a Muslim alliance,” he said,
describing it instead as a “regional stability alliance.”The Pakistani military
spokesman said the agreement formalized longstanding strategic relationships
among the three countries and was based on collective deterrence. “It has got no
offensive, no interference, no aggressive element about it,” Chaudhry said. “It
is purely defensive in nature.”Asked whether the alliance complicated Pakistan’s
position toward Iran, Chaudhry said it did not, arguing that Islamabad maintains
relationships with different countries independently of one another. “Our
relationship with the United States is independent and they are not at the cost
of Iran. They are not at the cost of China,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s
ties with other countries were similarly based on merit and mutual benefit.
Pakistan is also continuing its mediation efforts between Iran and the United
States.
Chaudhry said Pakistan’s political and military leadership had been reaching out
to all sides in an effort to prevent the conflict from widening and encourage a
negotiated settlement.“The only objective that Pakistan is pursuing is that the
conflict doesn’t spiral horizontally as well as vertically,” he said, adding
that Islamabad wanted differences resolved rather than being settled in the
“air, ground or naval domains.”He declined to provide details on the latest
state of the mediation efforts, saying Pakistan needed to remain objective and
neutral in its role as a mediator. Pakistan’s leadership, he said, had been
reaching out to all parties so that “instead of a military solution, we come to
a negotiated outcome of this very complex situation.”Chaudhry argued that
Pakistan was well placed to mediate because of its longstanding relations with
both Washington and Tehran. Pakistan has an established relationship with the
United States as well as “brotherly, neighborly, and very strategic relations”
with Iran, he said. He also said mediation efforts should continue, arguing that
parties involved in or surrounding the conflict should work toward a negotiated
outcome. “All parties involved in this conflict which are internally involved or
they are sitting on the periphery outside, must always work for a negotiated,
peaceful outcome,” Chaudhry said. Asked about the possibility of the Iran
conflict spilling toward Pakistan’s western border, Chaudhry said Islamabad
remained confident in its ability to protect its sovereignty and territorial
integrity, while acknowledging concerns about the conflict spreading more
broadly.“The whole region and the world at large is feeling the impact of this
conflict that is going on there,” he said.
Why Yemen’s Houthis have only grown stronger through
years of war
JOSEPH KRAUSS/Associated Press/16 September 2026
At various times over the last decade, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
the United States, Britain and Israel have carried out punishing air raids on
Yemen's Houthi rebels — only to see them grow even stronger. Now, as the
Iran-backed Houthis advance on a key maritime chokepoint and strike Saudi oil
facilities, rattling world markets, there is little that can be done to stop
them that hasn't been tried before.That's because the Houthis operate in a large
and mountainous territory where they can disperse fighters and military
infrastructure while threatening major oil infrastructure and key trade routes.
Iran and its allies in Lebanon and Iraq provide expertise, training and
sophisticated weapons, according to U.N. and other experts, and the Houthis'
hard-line ideology does the rest. "They are the most committed, the most
ideologically pure and the most aggressive" of Iran's regional allies, says
Michael Knights, who has written extensively about the Houthis and is now head
of research at Horizon Engage, a New York-based strategic advisory. "They've
been developed by the Iranians in a fast-track way. Things that took the
Lebanese Hezbollah 20 years to develop, the Houthis have developed in five."
The well-armed Iranian ally has room to run
The Houthis have a wide array of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones
— many resembling Iranian models — that can reach all the Gulf states as well as
Israel. They have also used sophisticated anti-ship missiles and naval drones to
strike vessels in the Red Sea, threatening a critical trade route.
Iran denies arming the Houthis, which would violate a U.N. embargo. But smuggled
Iranian weapons and parts have been seized from numerous shipments bound for
Yemen, and a report by U.N. experts in 2024 documented extensive military ties
between the Houthis, Iran and its other allies.
That report estimated that the Houthis had recruited up to 350,000 fighters by
2024, up from just 30,000 in 2015, when Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's civil
war against the Houthis and imposed a naval blockade. The Houthis can use
relatively inexpensive drones and missiles to target oil and other
infrastructure just across the border in Saudi Arabia, as well as tankers off
the coast. And while Iran is believed to supply cutting-edge components like
guidance systems, the Houthis can manufacture much of their weaponry
domestically, and there are suggestions they may be using AI to try to build
better missiles.Saudi Arabia boasts an array of U.S.-supplied weapons, including
sophisticated aircraft as well as advanced missile defenses used against Iran at
the height of the war last spring. But with supplies of high-end interceptors
under pressure, it's unclear how long it can ward off attacks — not only from
the Houthis, but from Iran-backed militias in Iraq blamed for an attack that
shut down an east-west pipeline crucial for oil exports.
Airstrikes have had limited effect
Saudi Arabia went to war against the Houthis in early 2015, after the rebels
seized much of northern and central Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, from
Yemen's internationally recognized government. Even then, the Saudis feared the
growth of a well-armed Iranian proxy on their border.
Over the next seven years, Saudi Arabia carried out waves of airstrikes against
the Houthis, often killing civilians. An array of Yemeni government forces and
southern separatists struggled to push the Houthis back, and the battle lines
moved little before a 2022 ceasefire.
Saudi Arabia condemns Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca
as regional outcry grows
Al Arabiya English/16 September ,2026
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday condemned an attempted Houthi drone attack targeting
Mecca, calling it a “cowardly attack” and urging the international community to
take a firm stance against the Iran-backed militia as condemnations poured in
from across the region and beyond. The Saudi foreign ministry said the attempted
attack was a continuation of the Houthis’ “terrorist practices” and reaffirmed
the Kingdom’s right to take all necessary measures to defend the security of
Islam’s two holiest sites, as well as its territory, citizens and residents.
Riyadh also called on the international community to condemn Houthi attacks and
take a firm stance against the militia, including over threats to freedom of
navigation.Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone that
attempted to enter Mecca’s airspace on Tuesday evening, according to the
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. The coalition said the hostile drone was
intercepted south of Mecca and described the attempted attack on the holy city
as a “black stain” on the Houthis’ record of violations.“The security of the Two
Holy Mosques and the pilgrims is a red line,” the coalition said, warning that
it would not hesitate to take “necessary and deterrent measures” against the
Houthis.The coalition said Tuesday’s incident marked the second Houthi attempt
to target Mecca, following an attempted ballistic missile attack in 2017.
The attempted attack drew widespread condemnation from Gulf and Arab countries.
Qatar described the attempt to target Mecca as a “disgraceful act of aggression”
and a highly dangerous escalation, saying that putting the holy city at risk
crossed “all red lines” and amounted to a “blatant provocation.”The Qatari
foreign ministry expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for measures
taken by the Kingdom to protect its security and territorial integrity. It also
expressed full confidence in Riyadh’s ability to safeguard Islam’s two holiest
sites.Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem al-Budaiwi condemned the
attempted attack as a “terrorist act” and a provocation to the feelings of
Muslims around the world. Al-Budaiwi said the attack represented an extremely
dangerous escalation that “crossed all boundaries” and required a firm and
deterrent international response. He said the six GCC countries stood united
alongside Saudi Arabia and supported measures taken by the Kingdom in response.
Bahrain also condemned the escalation in Houthi attacks and expressed its full
solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Manama said targeting holy sites was a consistent
pattern of Houthi conduct rather than an isolated incident and called on the UN
Security Council to take a firm stance to halt the militia’s attacks. Egypt also
condemned the attempted attack on Mecca and rejected any actions that threatened
Saudi Arabia’s security. The Egyptian foreign ministry expressed Cairo’s support
for the Kingdom in any measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty and
security. Turkey strongly condemned the Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca and
reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and
security. The Turkish foreign ministry called for an immediate end to the
attacks, warning that they threatened regional stability and security. The Arab
League also condemned the attempted drone attack, warning that continued Houthi
escalation was exacerbating regional tensions.Jordan and Kuwait separately
condemned the attempt to target Mecca with a Houthi drone. Pakistan’s Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attempted attack and said his
country stood “firmly and in solidarity” with Saudi Arabia.
Sharif praised what he described as the “exceptional vigilance” of the Saudi
armed forces and expressed Pakistan’s support for the Kingdom in defending the
security and sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim also condemned the incident, saying any attempt to target Mecca would be
“completely unacceptable.
US Warns Houthis Through Security Channels: We Are Not
Negotiating with You
London: Badr Al-Qahtani/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
US correspondence reviewed by Asharq Al-Awsat revealed that Washington had
issued a warning to the Houthis in Yemen through “security channels.”The
substance of the warning was not disclosed in the messages, but it was followed
by a US assertion that Washington was not negotiating with the group.
The Houthis’ outreach suggests that the group is seeking to consolidate its
position after weeks of military operations culminated in advances along Yemen’s
western coast overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The gains pose a fresh
threat to international shipping through the strategic waterway, which carries
12% of global trade. The clarification in the US diplomatic correspondence came
after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance said there had been
contact with the group, although neither explained the nature of the
communication. Meanwhile, during a UN Security Council session on the Bab
al-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday, Washington stated: “The US supports Yemen’s
legitimate government in confronting the Iran-backed Houthi militia. We call on
the Houthis to halt their advance, withdraw from the territory they have seized
and stop launching attacks.”On the ground, Yemen’s government is raising its
level of military readiness as it seeks to regain the initiative following
recent setbacks on the Taiz and western coastal fronts. Government forces have
made slow but seemingly more sustained progress on other fronts, including in
al-Jawf and al-Bayda, while continuing to repel Houthi attacks and military
buildups near Marib. Government forces are engaged in fierce battles with the
Houthis, which began escalating their operations in August. The group’s
opponents accuse it of violating de-escalation arrangements under orders
intended to ease pressure on Iran and enable Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to use
the Houthis as leverage against the United States in the war Washington launched
in February 2026, which intensified after Iran threatened to close the Strait of
Hormuz.
Why security channels?
Observers who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat said the mere use of security channels
did not indicate that negotiations or a deal were underway, or even that
Washington had accepted the Houthis’ assurances. Assessing the Houthi move and
the US response, Baraa Shiban, an associate fellow at Britain’s Royal United
Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, said the group was trying
to compensate for its lack of regional and international recognition by
exaggerating claims that it had opened channels of communication with the US
administration. Asked about the “security channels,” Shiban said Western
governments commonly maintained this type of contact with militias and terrorist
groups. Such communication, however, remained limited, took place outside
diplomatic or political frameworks and dealt only with sensitive or urgent
security matters.
Iranian tactics
News that the Houthis had contacted the United States was not treated as a
passing development. Yemenis sought to understand the group’s sudden move,
particularly because its slogan calls for “death to America”, raising the
question of how it could communicate with Washington. Mahmoud Shehrah, an
associate fellow at Britain’s Chatham House, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the
development was “part of a Houthi strategy that represents an extension of
Iran’s and the Revolutionary Guards’ conduct and negotiating tactics.”Shehrah, a
former Yemeni diplomat, said the Houthis’ approach was based on gradually
escalating tensions, launching a swift offensive and then offering assurances if
they made gains, in an effort to avoid becoming embroiled in an all-out war.
That, he said, was what had happened in Bab al-Mandeb. The Houthis had now
“taken a big bite” and were trying to digest it. The group was therefore seeking
to consolidate its gains and, in the meantime, needed to offer assurances to
prevent a swift response. It consequently sought to reassure the US and the
international community. The group also consistently sought to isolate its
opponents, a tactic it had repeatedly employed in the past. Shehrah recalled
that when the Houthis captured Sanaa, they began by reassuring all political
forces. Once they had consolidated their presence, they met each party
separately and told it that the other side was the enemy, until they had
eliminated them all. He said the group now wanted to employ the same approach
internationally, regardless of whether it could succeed.
Israel highlights regional military cooperation and intelligence focus on Yemen
LBCI/September 16/2026
Israel considers a recent military meeting in Germany involving its Chief of
Staff Eyal Zamir and counterparts from several Arab countries a major
achievement. The meeting was reportedly part of efforts led by Zamir to persuade
U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper of the need for greater regional
cooperation to counter threats from Iran and the Houthis, while also exploring
opportunities to deepen security cooperation across the Middle East. According
to Israel, Zamir briefed the chiefs of staff of the armed forces of Saudi
Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt on
Israeli military operations across various fronts. During the meeting, Cooper
told his counterparts that the United States does not intend to withdraw its
forces from the region and that fighting with Iran is continuing. The Houthi
issue was also a central focus of the discussions. Zamir returned to the issue
by revealing that, since the outbreak of the October 7 war, Israel’s Military
Intelligence Directorate has established a special department dedicated to
Yemen. The unit has both defensive and offensive capabilities and was presented
as a strategic asset for the countries participating in the meeting.
According to the report, the intelligence effort is based on three main pillars.
The first involves collecting and monitoring information in cooperation with
Western and Arab intelligence agencies. The second focuses on developing a
defense system capable of responding to Houthi offensive capabilities. This
includes understanding the group’s ability to launch missiles and drones, carry
out attacks, and disrupt maritime routes in the Red Sea. The third pillar
focuses on offensive operations. The report attributed part of the success of
Israel’s intelligence efforts to Yemeni Jews who immigrated to Israel and were
recruited into the military. A specialized intelligence school focused on Yemen
was established for them, training them in intelligence operations targeting the
Houthis. According to the report, their expertise has contributed to the
effectiveness of Israeli air and naval strikes deep inside Yemen.
Yemen's Houthis say targeted Saudi oil facility, air base
Agence France Presse/September 16/2026
Yemen's Houthis on Wednesday said they targeted an Aramco facility in the Red
Sea port city of Yanbu as well as an air base in southern Saudi Arabia in
response to Saudi airstrikes.
Military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi Arabia had launched more than 450 air
strikes this week, and that in response, the Iran-backed group "targeted the
Aramco facility in Yanbu with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones" causing
fires, as well as "the Khamis Mushait air base".
Why Yemen's Houthis have only grown stronger through years
of war
Associated Press/September 16/2026
At various times over the last decade, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
the United States, Britain and Israel have carried out punishing air raids on
Yemen's Houthi rebels — only to see them grow even stronger. Now, as the
Iran-backed Houthis advance on a key maritime chokepoint and strike Saudi oil
facilities, rattling world markets, there is little that can be done to stop
them that hasn't been tried before. That's because the Houthis operate in a
large and mountainous territory where they can disperse fighters and military
infrastructure while threatening major oil infrastructure and key trade routes.
Iran and its allies in Lebanon and Iraq provide expertise, training and
sophisticated weapons, according to U.N. and other experts, and the Houthis'
hard-line ideology does the rest."They are the most committed, the most
ideologically pure and the most aggressive" of Iran's regional allies, says
Michael Knights, who has written extensively about the Houthis and is now head
of research at Horizon Engage, a New York-based strategic advisory. "They've
been developed by the Iranians in a fast-track way. Things that took the
Lebanese Hezbollah 20 years to develop, the Houthis have developed in five."
The well-armed Iranian ally has room to run
The Houthis have a wide array of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones
— many resembling Iranian models — that can reach all the Gulf states as well as
Israel. They have also used sophisticated anti-ship missiles and naval drones to
strike vessels in the Red Sea, threatening a critical trade route. Iran denies
arming the Houthis, which would violate a U.N. embargo. But smuggled Iranian
weapons and parts have been seized from numerous shipments bound for Yemen, and
a report by U.N. experts in 2024 documented extensive military ties between the
Houthis, Iran and its other allies. That report estimated that the Houthis had
recruited up to 350,000 fighters by 2024, up from just 30,000 in 2015, when
Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's civil war against the Houthis and imposed a
naval blockade. The Houthis can use relatively inexpensive drones and missiles
to target oil and other infrastructure just across the border in Saudi Arabia,
as well as tankers off the coast. And while Iran is believed to supply
cutting-edge components like guidance systems, the Houthis can manufacture much
of their weaponry domestically. Saudi Arabia boasts an array of U.S.-supplied
weapons, including sophisticated aircraft as well as advanced missile defenses
used against Iran at the height of the war last spring. But with supplies of
high-end interceptors under pressure, it's unclear how long it can ward off
attacks — not only from the Houthis, but from Iran-backed militias in Iraq
blamed for an attack that shut down an east-west pipeline crucial for oil
exports.
Airstrikes have had limited effect
Saudi Arabia went to war against the Houthis in early 2015, after the rebels
seized much of northern and central Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, from
Yemen's internationally recognized government. Even then, the Saudis feared the
growth of a well-armed Iranian proxy on their border.
Over the next seven years, Saudi Arabia carried out waves of airstrikes against
the Houthis, often killing civilians. An array of Yemeni government forces and
southern separatists struggled to push the Houthis back, and the battle lines
moved little before a 2022 ceasefire. The following year, after the outbreak of
the war in Gaza, the Houthis began attacking Red Sea shipping in what they said
was a blockade of Israel. The U.S. and the U.K. launched waves of strikes
against the Houthis beginning in January 2024. The following year, U.S.
President Donald Trump ordered an intensified air campaign, with some 2,000
munitions dropped on over 1,000 targets, a U.S. military official told The
Associated Press at the time. The cost of the U.S. munitions alone totaled more
than $750 million, while the Houthis destroyed seven U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, at
a cost of more than $30 million apiece. An over $60 million F/A-18 fighter jet
slid off an aircraft carrier. After weeks of U.S. strikes, the Houthis agreed to
stop attacking American ships. But they continued to target Israel, which
responded with its own strikes later in 2025, killing the Houthi prime minister
along with other senior officials and repeatedly hitting a key port.
The Houthis largely kept to the sidelines in the first several months of the
Iran war, but in July, they resumed attacks on Saudi Arabia and declared a
blockade on Saudi shipping.
Any lasting defeat would require ground troops
As recent conflicts have shown, air power is rarely effective without ground
troops who can move in and seize territory after strikes. In the case of Yemen,
the ground fighters opposed to the Houthis are deeply divided and fought each
other as recently as January. They include fighters loyal to the Saudi-backed
government and southern separatists supported by the United Arab Emirates — a
sometimes rival to the Saudis that withdrew from Yemen in 2019. "Half of the
story is Iranian support, and this is extremely important ... but there's
another half of the story, which is the weakness of their adversaries," said
Thomas Juneau, a professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa
specializing in Iran and Yemen. "(Yemen's) internationally recognized government
is fragmented, it's weak, it's disunited, it's corrupt, and the Houthis have
systematically been able to exploit that," he said. In recent weeks, anti-Houthi
forces have fallen back from one position after another as the rebels have
advanced toward the Bab el-Mandeb, a narrow strait between the Red Sea and the
Gulf of Aden. The Saudis appear reluctant to enter another full-scale war with
the Houthis. A ground campaign would involve prolonged fighting and high
casualties. The U.S., still preoccupied with Iran, also appears keen to stay
out. A Saudi mutual defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan signed last month has
yet to be activated. The diplomatic options are also limited. The Houthis are
demanding that Saudi Arabia lift its blockade, which would be an admission of
defeat in the long-running war and pave the way for even more extensive Iranian
aid to the rebels.
"As long as U.S.-Iran tensions are not resolved, there will not be significant
progress between Saudi Arabia and Iran," Juneau said. "The Houthis are in a very
intransigent mood right now, and they are absolutely not ready to make any kind
of concessions."
China FM says willing to 'safeguard' Iran's rights
Agence France Presse/September 16/2026
China's foreign minister Wang Yi said Beijing was willing to "safeguard" Iran's
rights during talks with his counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, as Beijing
seeks to mediate in Tehran's war with the United States. "China is also willing
to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran, and safeguard Iran's
legitimate rights and interests," Wang told Araghchi as they met in the Chinese
capital. "We encourage Iran and the U.S. to stay rational and restrained," he
added.
Saudi says Houthis target Mecca, warn of 'red line'
Agence France Presse/September 16/2026
The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthis accused the rebels on Wednesday
of targeting Islam's holy city Mecca, sparking outrage across the Muslim world
and deepening the conflict roiling the region. Fresh fighting between the
Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government has dragged in Riyadh,
with the Houthis declaring a maritime blockade on the kingdom and targeting its
ships in the Red Sea. Last week's lightning offensive saw the group seize
control of the entirety of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a
vital artery for Saudi oil exports as the wider Middle East war chokes off the
Strait of Hormuz strategic shipping route. The Houthis swiftly rejected as a
"lie" Riyadh's report that it shot down a drone from the rebels heading towards
the Saudi city of Mecca, which attracts millions of pilgrims each year. "The
claims about targeting Mecca are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no
longer fools anyone," Hazem al-Assad from the Houthis' politburo wrote on X. The
Saudi coalition vowed retaliation, warning that the security of holy sites was a
"red line"."The security of the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims is a red line,
and the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will not hesitate to take the
necessary and deterrent measures against the Terrorist Houthi Militia," the
coalition said in a statement shared by spokesman Turki al-Maliki on X. The
Organization of Islamic Cooperation -- a bloc of 57 Muslim countries --
condemned the "heinous" attack. Saudi Arabia had issued brief alerts on Tuesday
over possible attacks in Mecca and across swathes of the kingdom's south, which
borders Yemen. The alerts, including the first one issued in Mecca since the
Middle East war erupted in February, came a day after a wave of ballistic
missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen wounded 13 people in the kingdom's
south. Fighting flared in July when the Houthis, who have for years controlled
swathes of northern Yemen, launched a large-scale offensive against Yemeni
government forces. The conflict in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country has
forced 82,000 people to flee their homes since the start of September, according
to the United Nations. Yemen's permanent representative at the UN, Abdullah al-Saadi,
said Yemenis were fighting to restore "national institutions across every inch
of their land", and called on the international community to take action against
the Houthis.
'Hostile and extremist' -
Yemen's plea came as Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for free navigation in the
Red Sea following the Houthi's offensive in the vital waterway. De facto Saudi
leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
called on Tuesday for "ensuring the freedom and security of maritime navigation"
through the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab -- which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of
Aden, the Egyptian presidency said. The revival of Yemen's civil war, dormant
since 2022, has left Riyadh rushing to respond. U.S. media reported last week
that the Saudi crown prince made a personal request to President Donald Trump
for U.S. intervention, but was turned down. The Houthis have insisted that there
is no threat to navigation in the Bab al-Mandab except for Saudi vessels. Any
attacks in the waterway are likely to make it less attractive to shippers.
Disruption in the strait could cause Egypt to feel the pinch too, as the Red Sea
serves as the gateway to the Suez Canal, upon which Cairo relies for crucial
foreign revenue. Canal revenues are currently around half of what they were
before the Houthis first started attacking Red Sea shipping in 2023, a campaign
they said was in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel's war against Hamas
in Gaza. On Tuesday, Qatar warned of dire consequences if Bab al-Mandab was
closed, saying it would be "catastrophic for the entire world". The Houthis have
also targeted oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the world's leading crude
exporter, helping push global prices above the $100-a-barrel threshold.The
Saudi-led coalition said it would deal with the attacks "firmly to protect the
sovereignty of the Kingdom", and would take "all necessary operational measures
to deter this... hostile and extremist approach". Houthi military spokesman
Yahya Saree said Tuesday that Saudi Arabia launched 52 airstrikes on Yemen over
the past 24 hours, accusing it of targeting civilian sites, including schools
and bridges. But Riyadh's strikes have failed to reverse the group's gains. A
U.S. military task force is working to enhance intelligence-sharing and planning
assistance for Saudi forces as they face attacks, a U.S. official told AFP on
Tuesday.
Toll from Gaza building collapse rises to 20, including 5
children
Associated Press/September 16/2026
At least 20 people, including five children, died, and dozens remained missing
on Wednesday after a Gaza apartment building collapsed from damage sustained in
earlier Israeli strikes, the territory's civil defense agency said, giving an
updated toll.
The bodies of "20 martyrs have been recovered from the rubble of a building that
collapsed... Among the dead are five infants, while dozens of people remain
trapped beneath the debris," said Mahmoud Bassal, the spokesperson for the civil
defense agency, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas authority.
Syria Parliament Votes to Abolish Assad-Era Terrorism
Court, Nullify Rulings
Asharq Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
Syria's parliament voted on Wednesday to abolish an Assad-era terrorism court
and nullify the legal effects of its rulings, state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV
reported, in one of the first significant legislative moves by the country's new
assembly. The Counter-Terrorism Court was established in 2012 as then-President
Bashar al-Assad sought to suppress an uprising against his rule, and it was used
to prosecute thousands of Syrians for terrorism-related offences. The move
formalizes the court's abolition after Syria's new authorities had already
treated it as defunct. In June 2025, President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decree
dismissing 67 judges who had served in what he described at the time as the
"abolished Counter-Terrorism Court". Syria's March 2025 constitutional
declaration had also called for abolishing the effects of what it described as
unjust rulings issued by the court, including returning confiscated property.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee said in 2024 that the 2012 law
establishing the court failed to adequately provide key judicial guarantees
and raised concerns over arbitrary detention, torture or ill-treatment, and the
court's independence. It also noted that the court was permitted to depart
from ordinary procedures during prosecution and trial. The UN's International,
Impartial and Independent Mechanism said in a 2024 report that the
Counter-Terrorism Court formed part of the judicial system through which
detainees held by Assad-era security agencies could be prosecuted. The report
documented widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment across the
government's detention system. Wednesday's vote came during the opening weeks of
the first parliament formed since Assad was toppled in December 2024. The
chamber convened for the first time in July. The vote is among the assembly's
first major legislative decisions after it spent its initial sessions
establishing its internal rules and committees. It held a hearing this week with
Education Minister Mohammad Abdul Rahman Tarkou over the state of the country's
schools and is due to question the energy minister on Thursday over a sharp rise
in fuel prices.
The Latest LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on September 16-17/2026
Stealth Jihad in the West: A Conversation with Robert
Spencer
Grégoire Canlorbe/Gatestone Institute/September 16, 2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22860/stealth-jihad-robert-spencer
Stealth jihad is well advanced in the U.S., with the entire
American left enabling and aiding the expansion of Muslim political power,
without realizing or caring that they are supporting a radically intolerant and
supremacist ideology.
We see in particular [in Europe] the increase of churches being bought and
transformed into mosques. Muslims in general prefer this to building new
buildings: the transformation of a church into a mosque is for them a visible
manifestation of Islam's victory, superiority over Christianity, and coming
hegemony.
Hundreds of years of jihad attacks weakened and ultimately destroyed the Roman
Empire in Constantinople. The failure to get help from the West... played a
large role in Constantinople's ultimate fall, as well as disunity among the
leaders of the empire itself. Some were even short-sighted and self-serving
enough to seek and obtain help from Muslim forces.
The U.S. faces a similar threat from short-sighted and self-serving leaders of
our own. The Democrats are busy encouraging the growth of Muslim political
power, while insisting on ignoring the political, supremacist, expansionist and
violent aspects of Sharia. Few politicians are aware of the nature and magnitude
of the threat, or are resolved to do anything about it. If this continues, we
will eventually face our own May 29, 1453 -- the fall of Constantinople ....
[P]robably all religions are affected, even though there are some notable
individuals who have not been afraid to speak out -- or prevented from doing so.
"Stealth jihad is well advanced in the U.S., with the entire American left
enabling and aiding the expansion of Muslim political power, without realizing
or caring that they are supporting a radically intolerant and supremacist
ideology." — Robert Spencer. (Image source: Jihad Watch YouTube channel)
Robert Bruce Spencer is a Christian American scholar writing on topics including
Islam, Orthodoxy, and the Byzantine Empire. The director of Jihad Watch, he is a
Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He has led seminars on
Islam and jihad for organizations like the FBI, the United States Central
Command, and the U.S. intelligence community.
Grégoire Canlorbe: Please tell us about the different ways of jihad. What is the
extent of their work in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world?
Robert Spencer: There are many forms of jihad. Besides armed jihad, there is
jihad of the tongue, jihad of the pen, jihad of the pocketbook and many more.
The goal of all of them is to destroy the existing order of non-Muslim states
and replace that order with the hegemony of Sharia.
Stealth jihad is well advanced in the U.S., with the entire American left
enabling and aiding the expansion of Muslim political power, without realizing
or caring that they are supporting a radically intolerant and supremacist
ideology. In Europe, this process is already even farther advanced due to the
high level of Muslim migration, which could lead to civil war, as well as,
demographically, to Islamic states on the continent -- and in Britain -- before
the end of this century. Russia is not exempt from this phenomenon, but
currently has fewer Muslims, and therefore less jihad.
Canlorbe: How do you assess the future of America, which was founded as a
Christian nation?
Spencer: America has, to a much lesser extent than Europe but nevertheless
unmistakably, cast off its Christian heritage to a tremendous degree. The
popular culture, educational system and mass media are actively anti-Christian,
and have managed a large-scale transformation of public attitudes and beliefs
over the last half-century. This has created a vacuum which Islam is eager to
fill, as it is doing in Europe. We see in particular the increase of churches
being bought and transformed into mosques. Muslims in general prefer this to
building new buildings: the transformation of a church into a mosque is for them
a visible manifestation of Islam's victory, superiority over Christianity, and
coming hegemony.
Canlorbe: You write about the Byzantine civilization and how it preserved the
legacy of Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem. What were those values it inherited? How
did they contribute to making the Byzantine world so different both from the
Islamic civilization, and from Catholic Europe?
Spencer: The Byzantines, who always referred to themselves simply as Romans and
believed they were simply Romans living in the Roman Empire, were responsible —
not the Muslims, as is commonly claimed — for preserving the classics of ancient
pre-Christian Greek literature. These writings were the foundation of the
Byzantine curriculum right up until it fell in 1453. The writings of Plato and
Aristotle, as well as of literary figures such as Aeschylus and Euripides, laid
the foundations of the Western political, philosophical, scientific and literary
traditions. As such, their influence is still felt today even among people who
never read their works or even heard of them.
Islamic civilization developed quite differently. We hear a great deal about the
Muslim philosophers who influenced Thomas Aquinas and others; we hear less about
how they were considered heretics among Muslims. Al-Ghazali condemned them in
The Incoherence of the Philosophers and effectively killed the Islamic
philosophical tradition. It continued, but under a cloud and never with as much
influence as it had before. Even worse, al-Ghazali, for all of his own
philosophical accomplishment, reinforced an anti-intellectualism in the Islamic
world that retarded scientific development and persists to this day.
Catholic Europe, likewise, had little knowledge of Plato and Aristotle until
Gemistos Plethon began lecturing on their works in Florence in the mid-fifteenth
century, leading to the Renaissance. The debt that the West owes to Byzantium is
as immense as it is little noted.
Canlorbe: How do you account for the fall of Constantinople? What lessons should
the U.S. draw from that event in the history of the West?
Spencer: Hundreds of years of jihad attacks weakened and ultimately destroyed
the Roman Empire in Constantinople. The failure to get help from the West,
stemming from suspicions arising from the Great Schism, played a large role in
Constantinople's ultimate fall, as well as disunity among the leaders of the
empire itself. Some were even short-sighted and self-serving enough to seek and
obtain help from Muslim forces.
The U.S. faces a similar threat from short-sighted and self-serving leaders of
our own. The Democrats are busy encouraging the growth of Muslim political power
while insisting on ignoring the political, supremacist, expansionist and violent
aspects of Sharia. Few politicians are aware of the nature and magnitude of the
threat, or are resolved to do anything about it. If this continues, we will
eventually face our own May 29, 1453 -- the fall of Constantinople to Ottoman
Sultan Mehmed II after a 53-day siege.
Canlorbe: When it comes to the sin of self-imposed submission to Islam, do you
believe that some religions are more affected than others?
Spencer: No, probably all religions are affected, even though there are some
notable individuals who have not been afraid to speak out -- or prevented from
doing so.
*Grégoire Canlorbe, a journalist, currently lives in Paris. He has conducted
interviews for journals such as Man and the Economy, founded by Nobel
Prize-winning economist Ronald Coase, and think tanks such as Mises Institute
and Gatestone Institute. Contact: gregoire.canlorbe@wanadoo.fr
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Will Hezbollah Risk Joining the Houthis?
Brigadier General Khaled Hamadeh//Al-Liwaa/September 16, 2026 (translated from
Arabic)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157561/
The round of negotiations hypothetically scheduled in Rome this month between
Israel and Lebanon was replaced by a meeting between Lebanon's Ambassador Nada
Hamada Mouaouad and her Israeli counterpart Yehiel Leiter in Washington. The
reasons given by the American site Axios to justify changing the nature of the
session and limiting it to a meeting of the two ambassadors did not rise to the
level of realism. Jewish holidays and preparations for the convening of the
Paris conference or the UN General Assembly are neither surprising nor do they
call for an open-ended postponement during October of negotiations that were not
even specifically scheduled in the first place.
The aforementioned postponement did not come out of nowhere, but rather came in
the context of a series of diplomatic and field developments that began after
the failure of the last round of negotiations held in Rome on August 6, which
revealed the impossibility of reaching a common vision on the verification
criteria for the implementation of the pilot zones, despite the magnitude of the
destruction that Israel is carrying out in many southern villages. Washington
read in the last Rome round a desire on the part of the Lebanese deep state to
repeat the experience of dealing with Resolution 1701, meaning to consecrate a
Lebanese reading of the Framework Agreement and subject its implementation to
conditions dictated by the Lebanese political formula and its intertwined
interests.
The American response to that came through the pressure tool available to
Israel, which is to persist in destroying and removing villages. Israel's
announcement of the fall of Ali al-Taher hill and the threat to expand the
security zone, under the title of destroying Hezbollah's infrastructure,
represented a push in an American track characterized by considering escalation
a field necessity and ignoring its consequences with the aim of bringing Lebanon
back to the negotiating table. Moreover, Tehran's backtracking from its threats
in the face of the fall of the famous highland was a shocking model of what the
coming confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel could be like.
It may be part of political realism that the deteriorating security reality and
its multi-level repercussions would lead to the formation of the beginning of a
national awakening that transcends political divisions and tries to salvage what
remains of national unity. But Tehran's silence over the fall of Ali al-Taher
was followed by a field advance by the Houthis on the outskirts of Bab al-Mandab,
which may reshape the scene upon which Tehran built its war in the Strait of
Hormuz. At the same time, podiums have turned into a field of threats and
intimidation through which the Hezbollah axis wanted to transform the results of
its wars into material with which to take revenge on the opponents of its
weapons, and upon which to build its political discourse.
Isn't the heated debate moving to sectarian podiums and the Jaafari Mufti Ahmad
Qabalan accusing the executive authority of collusion, incitement and division,
and considering it a full partner in what is happening in the south in terms of
killing, extermination, atrocities, bombings, destruction and bulldozing, isn't
that a maneuver to transform Hezbollah's field failure into a case of deliberate
persecution shared by the sons of the Shiite sect regardless of their different
political orientations? Then what does Qabalan mean by saying that "the solution
is to launch a national outcry and an operational workshop to prevent the insane
authority from the worst internal strife and the most dangerous sovereign
catastrophe, especially as it gives terrorist Israel enough time to get rid of
destroying and bulldozing the south"?
On the other hand, doesn't the announcement by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
that "the Framework Agreement has practically fallen" mean that he is in a
position completely separate from President Joseph Aoun and the government and
that he belongs to another axis that is bracing for a coming confrontation? And
isn't his threat to hold the government accountable under headings that have a
social character such as imposing taxes — despite his awareness of the economic
losses caused by his partner Hezbollah — a prelude to stirring up the street and
turning accountability into an investment in a confrontation between the
government and citizens?
So can the renewed escalation in the discourse of the Hezbollah axis be read as
a result of field developments on the outskirts of Bab al-Mandab? And will the
Hezbollah axis risk meeting the Houthis through the Lebanese interior?
Brigadier General Khaled Hamadeh// Director of the Regional Forum for Studies
and Consultations
Yemen: A Battle to Restore the State
Dr. Abdel Monem Saidr/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
The Iranian war continues along its various fronts. In reality, it is called an
Iranian war because Iran was its source when Hamas launched its attack on
October 7, 2023; when it mobilized its other proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen
to provide support; and when it responded to the anticipated Israeli-American
attack by targeting fellow Arab states in the Gulf and waging a new form of “oil
weapon” against the global economy and the economies of Arab countries. In fact,
the war has not entered a path toward de-escalation despite mediators’ efforts.
Tehran and Washington have continued exchanging threats on the Strait of Hormuz
front, where the United States maintains a comprehensive naval blockade of
Iranian ports as part of a strategy of severe economic pressure on
Iran.Meanwhile, Iran has devoted its efforts entirely to the Lebanese, Iraqi,
and Yemeni arenas, where non-national militias have fueled both civil and
regional wars after investing enormous efforts in undermining the
internationally recognized nation-state. Now, the “Yemeni moment” is moving in
the opposite direction, toward restoring the legitimate political authority to
its rightful position and sovereignty, one that does not permit armed political
entities to control territory outside the framework of the state and its
authority. Yemen is now divided between the internationally recognized
legitimate government - acknowledged by the United Nations, the Arab League, and
the rest of the world - and the Houthis, who occupy another front. This
situation places Yemen on the first step toward enabling the state to restore
not only its sovereignty, but also, ultimately, Yemeni unity once again.
The Yemeni leadership now stands at the heart of this historic moment in
reclaiming Yemeni identity. Saudi Arabia’s leadership has stood firmly and
honorably beside the Yemeni state, ensuring its survival through a framework of
partnership among Yemenis, including members of the Southern Transitional
Council. These parties now need to engage in dialogue about the future position
of southern Yemen within the Yemeni nation-state while preserving a unified
national Yemeni state. A unified Yemen, together with the Arab Coalition, is now
confronting the Houthis, who have appointed themselves guardians of
international trade, the Red Sea, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in order to
affirm the right of all Yemenis to a free, independent state capable of freeing
itself from disastrous dependence on Iran. As has happened repeatedly since the
outbreak of Iran’s regional wars, Tehran has encouraged the Houthis to carry out
indiscriminate attacks against the resilient Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as
other Arab countries, using missiles and drones. This confrontation exposes
Iran’s opposition to the Arab nation-state through militias operating outside
legitimate authority. It also calls for a unified Arab position in support of
Yemen’s legitimate government, building on the multinational defensive maritime
coalition established on July 30, 2026. The confrontation in this Yemeni moment
requires steadfast support for the legitimate authority as a prelude to a
unified Arab stance against militias aligned with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
Corps, which claims the right to reshape the Middle East according to an
expansionist Iranian vision. In reality, the battle for Yemen represents a
decisive moment in Iran’s war and its ambitions toward the Arab region. At the
forefront stand the legitimate government and the steadfast Yemeni people. Those
familiar with Yemen know that when an Arab visitor arrives there, Yemeni
companions often greet them by saying: “Welcome to your first homeland.” It is a
direct reminder of the earliest roots of the Arab nation. Before Arabization and
interaction with other peoples, the original Qahtani Arabs inhabited this land.
Today, Yemenis may tell Arab visitors: “Welcome to your second homeland.” Such
greetings reflect remarkable generosity, warm hospitality, and conversations
marked by both friendliness and grace.The current battle marks the beginning of
reclaiming an Arab state from Iran’s grip. Iran has fought its conflicts on the
shoulders of Arab countries that struggled for decades to build and lead modern
nation-states.While Saudi Arabia has taken the lead in supporting this effort,
broader backing is needed from Arab and Islamic countries under the umbrella of
the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the alliances they
represent.
Terrorism that Changed its Shape
Yousef Al-Daynir/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and after following much
of what has been published about the terrorism dilemma, one cannot say that the
world has failed to learn a great deal about counterterrorism. On the contrary,
the world has learned a great deal. Intelligence services have evolved, travel
procedures and financial channels have been significantly tightened through
digital tracking, and surveillance, monitoring, and precision-strike
technologies have advanced considerably. Yet the more pressing question remains:
Have approaches to terrorism and strategies for countering extremism evolved
with the same pace and effectiveness? I believe there is a problem affecting a
broad segment of Western research sectors and policymaking circles regarding
terrorism. They continue to view it through stereotypes inspired by the events
of September 11: Terrorists arriving from abroad, mostly belonging to
organizations classified along sectarian lines and trained in remote camps. On
the basis of this stereotype, the "War on Terror" was constructed, producing
watchlists, overseas military campaigns, targeted killings of leaders and
symbolic figures, airstrikes reaching even small communities in crumbling states
such as Yemen, plans aimed at changing political regimes as seen in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and the repositioning of international relations. In other words,
after 2001 terrorism was transformed from an ideological and security issue into
a major strategic war. Yet this approach gradually receded and ultimately faded,
culminating in a pivotal moment with the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021
and the return of the Taliban after decades of war against it. The War on Terror
achieved significant successes. The organizational structures of major extremist
groups were dismantled, and most of their first-tier leaders and figures were
eliminated. As a result, it has become difficult to imagine an operation on the
scale and magnitude of 9/11 being carried out today. However, this is less a
consequence of confronting extremist ideology or eliminating al-Qaeda than it is
of the profound transformation in the security environment before and after
September 11. That monumental event continues to inspire research papers and
analytical books even a quarter-century later. In my view, operational success
conceals deeper problems, especially the vacuum that emerges after a mission is
declared complete with the elimination of a key leader. The legacy and ideology
of these organizations are often left behind to regenerate themselves, drawing
on narratives of victimhood. As such, jihadism has not ended. Neither al-Qaeda
and its affiliates nor ISIS have disappeared. The former recently reintroduced
Hamza bin Laden through a special recording marking the anniversary of September
11, while the latter continues to operate a multilingual media machine that
regularly produces content seeking to exploit chaos for recruitment and
mobilization.
Both organizations have also shifted geographically away from traditional
conflict zones, with their center of gravity moving to Africa, particularly the
Sahel, Somalia, and West Africa, where weak states, local conflicts, and porous
borders provide fertile ground for repositioning and expansion. The caliphate
model collapsed on the ground, only to migrate into the minds and imagination of
jihadists, where it continues to reproduce itself through apocalyptic and epic
narratives centered on end-of-times visions. Even more dangerous today is the
rise of another model of organized violence, exemplified by entities associated
with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. This model adopts the form of the state
itself, supported by a network of proxies that imitate state functions and
behavior. Hundreds of politicized, ideological, sectarian militias operating
outside the law have been supplied with funding, weapons, training, missile
capabilities, and drones. This model thrives in chaos by exploiting the blurred
lines between politics, extremism, and terrorism. Here lies one of the greatest
weaknesses of the previous international approach. In the past, it was
relatively easy to identify a terrorist in a cave, a training camp, or through
membership in a known organization. Today's militias, however, exist as entities
embedded within the state itself. They participate in parliaments while
retaining weapons outside the framework of the law.
At the same time, technological advances have empowered them. Encrypted
communications, cryptocurrencies, commercial drones, 3D printing, and artificial
intelligence have made capabilities once reserved for states or major
organizations accessible to individuals and small networks. Today's terrorists
do not need passports. They can emerge from within states that are capable of
monitoring their borders but incapable of building walls around the digital
content that targets the minds of their citizens. Technological progress has
equipped modern terrorism with highly dangerous tools, including encrypted
communications, cryptocurrencies, commercial drones, and 3D printing, all of
which were once the preserve of governments. These capabilities are now
available to militias and clandestine organizations operating from hidden
sanctuaries. And now comes artificial intelligence, the most dangerous
development of all.
What remains of the lessons of September 11? I believe that the failure of
imagination that, at the time, could not conceive of a civilian airliner being
turned into a human-guided suicide bomb still persists today. It is reflected in
the continued search for the stereotypical terrorist at airports and in the
surveillance of organizations in remote training camps, while today's camps are
digital ones, penetrating states through the power of algorithms and fabricated
content. The threat has not disappeared; it has merely changed its form. Yet
parts of the world remain trapped in the image through which they first came to
understand it a quarter of a century ago.
The Partial European Boycott Will Not Deter Israel
Ahmad Mahmoud Ajajr/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
The British Labour government has finally moved from words to action regarding
Israel. Even before stepping across the threshold of Downing Street, the new
Prime Minister admitted that the previous Labour government, led by Keir Starmer,
failed to rise to the level of the tragedy in Gaza, stressing that what
transpired will remain a "scar on our collective conscience." This admission was
followed by a speech in the House of Commons by his Foreign Secretary, Ed
Miliband, in which he described the events in Gaza as amounting to genocide, and
deemed the settlement policy in the West Bank unacceptable, labeling the
settlers as "terrorists." Miliband did not stop there. He followed it with a
series of economic measures, preceded by a series of sanctions on settlers to
whom the description of "terrorism" applies due to their violation of
humanitarian and international laws in occupied territories.
The sanctions came at a time when Israel believed it was immune to any critique
carrying real harm, never imagining that Britain, the largest contributor to the
creation of the State of Israel, would utter the phrase "amounts to genocide" or
accuse Israeli authorities of remaining silent on settler violence. Notably,
Miliband is Jewish, rendering any accusation of antisemitism against him
meaningless, while his stance toward Netanyahu's government indicates that it
has crossed all red lines, whether political or moral. This stance in particular
can be understood given the British Prime Minister's left-wing background and
his staunch support for Israel's existence and security. However, amid the
ongoing developments, he believes the Netanyahu government deserves a "clip on
the ear" because its settlement policy violates international law, which
criminalizes the annexation of occupied territories, and because of practices
that violate the rights of the population in those lands. While the Prime
Minister's stance carries moral weight, it is also driven by domestic political
calculations. This comes after it became clear to him that the Starmer
government's position on Gaza cost the party seats in traditionally secure
Labour constituencies. Furthermore, he recognizes that for Britain to adopt a
principled foreign policy - even a relative one - he must oppose violations that
are entirely unjustifiable. This is particularly critical given that Britain
originally facilitated Israel’s presence in Palestine and continues to provide
the country with weapons and diplomatic backing in international forums.
Consequently, Israel finds itself grappling with a dual moral and political
crisis for the first time, even as it operates with unprecedented military
hubris. Israel has long boasted of being a peaceful nation, the only democracy
in the region, and the most respectful of human rights; however, it has now
revealed itself as a predatory beast that places no value on principles or
treaties. Its reputation has shattered, leaving a damage that cannot be mended
without an extraordinary effort.
Across the West, public opinion polls indicate that support for Israel has
plunged to unprecedented lows. A Pew Research Center survey showed that 80
percent of American Democrats hold a negative view of Israel, while a Gallup
poll revealed that 65 percent of Democrats sympathize with the Palestinians,
compared to just 17 percent who favor Israel. Although Republicans continue to
back Israel, this support is largely confined to demographics over fifty; among
younger cohorts, Republican support drops to 57 percent. These figures deeply
trouble decision-makers in Israel and create even greater concern among its
Western allies. The political shifting of these numbers is driving Western
governments to abandon their historical stance of blind support and openly
criticize Israeli policies. This shift occurs because the domestic political
cost they once feared has diminished; instead, penalizing and criticizing Israel
has become politically advantageous. It is within this context that the recent
British stance can be understood, alongside similar measures from influential
European nations like France, Italy, and Spain, whose governments have enacted
policies targeting the settlement economies and imposed sanctions on individual
figures, including some holding ministerial portfolios. Despite their
significance, these sanctions remain largely symbolic and have failed to alter
the behavior of the Israeli government. Reacting to the measures, Israel's
Foreign Minister dismissed Miliband's remarks as "outrageous lies," asserting
that foreign governments have no right to restrict Jews from living in Israel.
This Israeli indignation does not stem from Miliband’s actual remarks, which
were measured and carefully calculated; in fact, the Foreign Secretary opposed
calls from 170 civil organizations demanding "Boycott, Divestment, and
Sanctions" (BDS) to force a capitulation similar to that of the South African
apartheid regime. Instead, Israel's irritation is driven by newfound European
boldness, the willingness to contemplate soft sanctions, and the potential for
these measures to expand beyond the occupied territories into the heart of the
state of Israel itself. This escalation is what Israel genuinely fears,
explaining the fierce response motivated by the dread of facing the same fate as
the former apartheid regime in South Africa.Since a comprehensive European
boycott remains unlikely because it would threaten Israel’s existence and
economic security, Israel will see no justification to halt settlement
expansion. Consequently, Europe will continue to threaten limited sanctions,
Israel will persist in its expansion, and Palestinians will continue to face
violence and displacement. Over time, no land will remain for the establishment
of a Palestinian state, unless massive international pressure is applied.
Investing in Innovation Where it Matters Most
Dr. Abdullah AlMoallem and Dr. Ons Al Khadrar/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
When Adyan was born in a rural hospital in Lahj, southwestern Yemen, he weighed
just 900 grams. At only 28 weeks, his chances of survival were slim. In many
conflict-affected settings, a baby born that early would not survive. But Adyan
did. The midwife caring for him had access to modern equipment, specialized
training and evidence-based clinical approaches designed specifically for
low-resource settings. Adyan survived because innovation was able to reach him
despite the challenges that he and his family faced. Adyan’s story raises a
larger question: Why do we assume that innovation belongs only to the world’s
strongest health systems when it is needed most in its weakest ones? For
decades, humanitarian response has focused on delivering assistance after crisis
strikes. That work remains essential. But in many cases, today’s crises are no
longer short-lived emergencies. Conflicts are lasting longer, weather-related
events are becoming more frequent, and weak health systems are struggling under
pressures they were never designed to absorb. According to the United Nations,
nearly 239 million people now require humanitarian assistance and protection
services worldwide. At the same time, progress toward the Sustainable
Development Goals - the global targets adopted by all UN member states to
improve health and well-being by 2030 - is slowing, particularly in countries
affected by conflict and fragility. The consequences are particularly visible in
maternal and newborn health.
According to the World Health Organization, six out of every 10 maternal deaths
worldwide now occur in countries experiencing conflict or institutional
fragility. Women living in these settings face dramatically higher risks during
pregnancy and childbirth - not because solutions do not exist, but because
health systems often lack the capacity, skilled workers and resources to deliver
them consistently.Investing in innovative care is still too often viewed as
requiring stable environments, where implementation is less challenging, and
outcomes are more predictable. Yet if such investment exists to improve lives,
shouldn’t it then flow to where lives are most at risk, not away from them?
Yemen offers a compelling example.
More than a decade of conflict has left 22.3 million Yemenis - nearly half of
them are women and girls - in need of humanitarian assistance, and the country’s
health system faces extraordinary pressure. Women and newborns face preventable
risks every day because services remain difficult to access. More than 1,600
women die each year from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, while
shortages of medicines, functioning health facilities and trained health workers
continue to put the mothers and newborns who survive at unnecessary risk.
Against this backdrop, International Medical Corps, working closely with Yemen’s
Ministry of Public Health and Population, and with funding from King Salman
Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and the Gates Foundation, is testing whether
proven innovations in maternal and newborn nutrition and health can be
successfully adapted to one of the world’s most challenging operating
environments. The initiative, which spans 29 health facilities across five
governorates in southern Yemen, has introduced a package of proven maternal and
newborn health innovations. These include improving maternal nutrition,
identifying high-risk pregnancies earlier, preventing postpartum hemorrhage,
strengthening newborn care and equipping frontline health workers with the
training and tools they need to provide high-quality care in remote and
under-resourced communities. By the end of the project, more than 100,000 women
and newborns are expected to benefit directly from these interventions,
expanding access to potentially lifesaving care in communities where such
services are often hardest to access.
But sustainable impact requires more than technology. It requires commitment.
From the beginning, Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population was a full
partner in adapting the interventions to national protocols and integrating them
into existing services. Its officials did not simply authorize the work; they
championed it, attending training sessions and reviews by choice rather than
obligation - and that commitment reached every level of the system. This is not
about importing solutions from outside. It is about strengthening local systems
so that improvements continue long after the projects end. This distinction
matters. Innovation lasts only when local institutions own it, and it reaches
the people who need it most only when someone is willing to apply it where it
may be difficult to deliver. As the international community works toward
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, one reality is becoming
increasingly clear: progress will depend not only on the innovations that we
develop, but on when we choose to invest in them. The future of humanitarian
action and global health will not be shaped in the world’s less-challenging
environments. It will be shaped in communities where health systems are under
the greatest strain - and where the need is most urgent.
Adyan went home because this project reached him. He is proof, not a promise -
evidence that, even in the world's hardest places, the right investment saves
lives. The task now is to make his story the rule rather than the exception.
**Dr. Abdullah AlMoallem is the Health and Environmental Aid Department Director
at King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
**Dr. Ons AlKhadra is the Senior Director of MENA & GCC Affairs at International
Medical Corps.
Yemen Interior Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iran Seeking to Militarize Bab
al-Mandeb Through the Houthis
Riyadh: Abdulhadi Habtor/Asharq Al-Awsat/September 16/2026
Yemen’s Interior Minister Major General Ibrahim Haidan warned that Iran is
seeking to establish long-term military influence over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait
and its surrounding islands and coastlines by exporting to the Red Sea the model
it developed to “militarize maritime corridors” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Haidan said experts from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were helping
the Houthis strengthen their capabilities and build fortifications, operations
rooms and facilities for missiles, drones and remotely guided boats.
“The danger is not limited to the threats that exist today, but extends to what
is being built for the future,” Haidan told Asharq Al-Awsat. He warned that
continued Houthi control of strategic areas could give Iran leverage over one of
the world’s most important shipping lanes and help it connect Yemen with the
Horn of Africa through smuggling networks and armed groups. His remarks followed
sweeping government losses along Yemen’s western coast. In an offensive from
Sept. 3 to 11, the Houthis seized Hays, Al-Khokha, Mokha and its port before
advancing to Bab al-Mandeb, Mayyun Island and the remaining Yemeni islands in
the southern Red Sea. Haidan said security readiness had been raised in Aden,
Lahj and areas behind the frontlines following the developments in Mokha and
along the western coast. The defense and interior ministries were coordinating
through a joint operations room to prevent operatives and cells from
infiltrating those areas or exploiting waves of displacement to carry out
security breaches, he added. ‘Militarizing’ Bab al-MandebHaidan placed the
latest developments in a broader context, saying Yemen was “part of a regional
and international security system” and that events there quickly reverberated
around the world because of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The gravest danger, he
said, was the military infrastructure being built in the area for future use.
Experts linked to the IRGC were providing the Houthis with expertise and
guidance to conduct operations and develop their military capabilities, he
said.Those efforts included building “capabilities, fortifications, bases,
operations rooms and caves used to manufacture drones and remotely guided boats
and to develop missiles” across Bab al-Mandeb and the surrounding islands,
coastlines and highlands.Haidan said Iran aimed to replicate in Bab al-Mandeb
its experience of “militarizing maritime corridors” in the Strait of Hormuz.
That could turn an open international waterway into a source of influence and
pressure for future use, he warned. Iranian and Houthi assurances about the
safety of navigation should not be treated as sufficient guarantees, he said,
arguing that such messages merely gave the Houthis more time to expand their
military systems and fortifications.
Could Mayyun become another Larak?
Haidan outlined a more specific threat to the Red Sea islands, warning that
additional time could allow the Houthis to build bases, hideouts and fortified
caves, backed by advanced surveillance, tracking and jamming systems. Mayyun
Island, at the heart of Bab al-Mandeb, could take on a military role similar to
that of Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, he said.Zuqar and the
Hanish Islands, as well as the highlands and coastlines along the Red Sea, could
also become part of an “integrated military system” if the Houthis consolidated
their presence in the strait, he added.
From the Red Sea to the Horn of Africa
The danger extends beyond Bab al-Mandeb, according to Haidan. Houthi control of
the strait could give the Revolutionary Guards greater scope to connect Yemen
with the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, he said.Smuggling networks and maritime
routes could be used to move weapons, equipment and expertise, strengthen Houthi
military and logistical capabilities and expand communication with armed groups
and terrorist organizations operating in the Horn of Africa, particularly
Somalia’s al Shabaab. Haidan warned that those groups’ capabilities could merge
with those of the Houthis and IRGC networks.
Such coordination could turn Bab al-Mandeb into “a foothold for multifaceted
Iranian influence across several arenas” and give Tehran a strategic tool to
deploy during any regional escalation, he said.
Coastguard needs urgent support
Government forces continue to confront the Houthis and work to regain and secure
lost territory, Haidan stressed. He singled out smuggling as one of the main
arteries for financing and supplying the Houthis. Yemen’s coastguard was
carrying out its duties despite limited resources, but needed “urgent,
specialized support” from allied and friendly countries, he remarked. That
support should include maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities,
tracking and monitoring systems, patrol boats and modern equipment. Intelligence
capabilities must also be strengthened to uncover smuggling networks, track
their routes and intercept their shipments, he added.Protecting Bab al-Mandeb
and combating smuggling were no longer purely domestic Yemeni concerns, Haidan
declared. “The security of navigation and international trade routes begins with
the state exercising sovereignty over its territory and waters,” he said.
Confronting the threats required regional and international support for the
Yemeni state and stronger state capabilities, he added.
Securing Aden and Lahj
Security deployments have been reinforced at the entrances to Lahj province, the
interim capital Aden and surrounding areas as displacement increased following
the developments along the western coast, Haidan said. The Interior Ministry
treated the crisis as extending beyond the military frontlines. It acted
simultaneously to protect displaced civilians and raise security readiness under
plans prepared in advance for different scenarios. The measures sought to
balance the protection of displaced people with the need to stop the Houthis
from exploiting their movement “for security purposes or to carry out
infiltration and penetration operations,” he said. Authorities have stepped up
coordination and information-sharing among security agencies, local authorities
and military units. They have also intensified preemptive intelligence efforts
to prevent operatives from entering government-held areas or carrying out acts
of sabotage.
A view of a village on the coast of Bab al-Mandeb, Yemen April 2, 2026.
(Reuters)
Joint operations room
The defense and interior ministries were coordinating through a “joint
operations room,” Haidan said. Its work included producing a unified assessment
of the situation, assigning responsibilities and speeding up responses to
developments on the ground. Security and military services had also strengthened
communication and information-sharing, focusing on frontlines, roads and areas
that could be used to infiltrate operatives and cells or transport weapons and
explosive devices. Displacement remained “primarily a humanitarian issue,”
Haidan said, but it also required careful security management to prevent it from
being used as cover to infiltrate operatives or cells into government-held
areas.
Sleeper cells and smuggling
Asked about the threats facing the security services, Haidan cited infiltration
attempts and the potential use of displacement movements to conceal operatives
or transport information and materials for acts of sabotage. Sleeper cells,
smuggling networks and organized crime also posed risks, he told Asharq
Al-Awsat.The heightened security measures in Aden and Lahj were largely
“preventive and preemptive,” Haidan explained. They aimed to stop military
pressure on the frontlines from spilling into cities while preserving a
humanitarian approach toward displaced people.
People fleeing clashes between Houthi militants and Yemeni government forces
gather at the Markazi refugee camp after arriving in Djibouti, September 15,
2026. (Mylaèle Negga/International Organization for Migration/Handout via
Reuters)
Mokha a ‘practical test’
Haidan described the events in Mokha as a “direct and practical test” of the
security establishment’s readiness and the Interior Ministry’s contingency
plans. From the outset, those plans accounted for advances and retreats,
shifting frontlines, widening displacement and mounting pressure on provinces
behind the fronts, he said. Protecting the home front was not a temporary task
tied to a particular military development, but an “integral and permanent” part
of the Interior Ministry’s work. Resources and security deployments had been
adjusted to battlefield developments, while information-sharing among security
agencies, local authorities and military forces had been strengthened, he added.
‘Collusion’ with terrorist groups
Beyond the Houthi threat, Haidan warned that terrorist organizations, smuggling
networks and organized crime groups could exploit the widening war, shifting
frontlines and troop redeployments to create security vacuums.He said there was
“collusion” between the Houthis and those groups and networks. The relationship
predated the latest developments and included links with Somalia’s al
Shabaab.Security agencies did not treat the Houthi threat, terrorism, organized
crime and smuggling as separate files, but as “a single security system,” Haidan
said.That required heightened readiness, stronger deployments in sensitive areas
and tighter monitoring of entry points, roads and smuggling routes to prevent
the military developments from triggering a broader security crisis.
Saudi Arabia Trades Mecca for Jerusalem
Ari Tatarka/It's Noon In Israel/September 16, 2026
Also, the opposition’s ignored flank, and a shocking new story from the day of
October 7.
It’s Wednesday, September 16, despite a month of non-stop catastrophizing in the
media, the Mecca Defense Pact—much like the Memorandum of Understanding—has
proven short-lived. When the Saudis, custodians of the holy cities, prayed for
help in their hour of need, they faced Jerusalem.
First, some context. The Mecca Pact, a defense agreement signed between three of
the largest Muslim nations (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey), was meant to be
a “shield of peace” that would “last for generations,” according to the
Pakistani prime minister. It achieved neither, but to be fair, that rhetoric was
always empty. The pact was a triangulation: a signal to Washington that Riyadh
had options, and an attempt to build a non-aligned pole in the Middle East to
counter both Iranian and Israeli ambitions. Yet the rubber met the road almost
immediately, and promptly swerved out of control.
Last week, Houthi missiles and drones hit four Saudi cities, wounding 73
civilians and halting operations at energy facilities, all while a Houthi
offensive in Yemen seized much of the Red Sea coast and closed in on the Bab
al-Mandeb. But never fear: Turkey’s foreign minister strongly condemned the
attacks and reaffirmed Ankara’s support for the kingdom, warning that the
strikes undermined diplomatic efforts to end the Yemen conflict through a
lasting political solution. He then called on the Houthis to cease their
aggression. Translation: no help is coming.
Saudi Arabia’s Houthi problem got the European Hamas treatment, and when you
have a Hamas-shaped problem, you call the experts. So far, Israel has publicly
committed to sharing intelligence on the Houthis, though I suspect the real
cooperation runs considerably deeper. The Saudis, as far as anyone knows, have
promised nothing in return. If that sounds unfair, it’s because it is. For
decades the Arab world has treated Israel like a mistress: the rendezvous were
frequent and kept firmly out of sight. One might argue that Israel should now
demand Riyadh take the UAE path and make the relationship official before it
deepens any further. That would be a mistake. Israel wants a warm peace with
Saudi Arabia, not a forced détente. Demanding public normalization now won’t
produce a treaty; the situation isn’t desperate enough that the kingdom would
risk ignoring the Palestinians. Instead, such a demand would only cost Israel
friends in the long run. Long before any official ties with the Gulf were
announced, Israel had built thousands of smaller connections through
intelligence-sharing and cooperation. Israel and Saudi Arabia already have a
long history together, but there is no such thing as too strong a foundation.
For now, it is sufficient for Riyadh to know that if it is looking for a
protector, it will not find one in Ankara. Fearing he would antagonize Iran and
spoil a useful relationship, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has
squandered his chance to consolidate a bloc. In keeping Tehran’s favor, he left
an opening for the very adversary he signed the treaty to hedge against to step
into the gap. Washington may have let a similar opportunity slip: the chance to
bear-hug a frightened ally. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, CENTCOM
wisely reasserted the strength and cohesion of their bloc, convening a meeting
in Germany with representatives from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt. But as in the Iran war,
military competence was undercut by political mixed messaging.
Mohammed bin Salman asked Trump to strike the Houthis and was repeatedly
rebuffed. Trump went further, claiming the terror group “called us, and they let
us know that they don’t want to fight with us.” He is unlikely to stay so
magnanimous once the Houthis grow less discriminating, but by then it will be
too late.The Saudi fear has never been that the US military couldn’t protect
them, but that the US political class wouldn’t. They didn’t sign the Mecca Pact
in the immediate aftermath of the war; they signed only after a month of Trump’s
bi-polar messaging on negotiations. Even if Washington eventually launches
Operation Rough Rider 2 against the Houthis, Riyadh will remember who was there
by choice and who had to be forced. The signals coming from Washington and
Ankara contrast nicely with the voice emanating from Jerusalem.
That voice soothes Saudi fears, whispering that there is one country that,
unlike the United States, is not going anywhere; that, unlike Turkey, also
counts Iran as an enemy; and that, unlike any of the region’s smaller states,
has a proven ability to strike the Houthis. We are still far from a public
embrace, but this will not be the last time Saudi Arabia prays for Jerusalem in
its hour of need. The change government came about thanks to some 20 right-wing
mandates: Gideon Sa’ar and New Hope ran an entire campaign on sovereignty,
judicial reform and settling the Golan. Bennett attacked Netanyahu from the
right, and Lieberman was Lieberman. Since then, natural growth has done its
part; so have mortality and emigration. As the famous joke from the ‘70s had it,
in every ambulance on the street there’s either a Likudnik on the way to be born
or a Labourite on the way to die. So the road to reproducing the upset runs
through a strong right wing, even more than it did five years ago. That’s why
there’s something baffling about the change bloc’s collective decision to go, of
all directions, the other way. Lieberman is still the same Lieberman with the
same number of mandates. But Bennett (who ran with Ayelet Shaked, Nir Orbach and
Amichai Chikli, the national-religious Yamina cohort, several of whom would
later blow up his government from its right) this week unveiled a list without a
single religious figure. In their place, on the joint “Together” slate he now
shares with Lapid’s Yesh Atid, sit a good many of the Kaplan crowd: Noam Tibon,
the reserve general lionised for driving south to rescue his son’s family on
October 7; Ram Ben Barak, the former Mossad deputy chief and Yesh Atid MK; Keren
Terner, the technocratic ex-director general of the Finance and Transportation
ministries; and a bench drawn from the veterans of the 2023 anti-overhaul
protests. Eisenkot, admittedly, is careful to stress his opposition to a
Palestinian state, and half of his first dozen candidates are religious, but
this looks more like Gantz’s Blue and White of back then than like Sa’ar. Not to
mention Yair Golan, who puts off the right far more than Michaeli and Horowitz,
the last Labor and Meretz leaders, did in their day. Maybe that’s the reason the
gaps in the polls narrowed over the past two weeks. Ofer Winter brought back to
the right coalition voters who’d been thinking of wandering off, simply because
he’s right-wing and new. The change camp doesn’t have enough attractive options
for the voter who recoils from a Palestinian state, believes in settlement and
wants changes to the judicial system. And so, as of now, instead of an election
about change versus stagnation, it’s become a battle between the blocs again.
Netanyahu will be happy for it to stay that way; his rivals will have to rethink
how to rearrange the board. The problem is that because the fight within the
bloc hasn’t yet been settled, and because the bloc partly comes from the
center-left, the parties are chasing the easy votes there rather than the hard
votes that went to Likud and are wavering right now over whether to cross the
lines.“If I’m taken alive, everyone knows I have to be killed,” the senior
commander in Israel’s internal security service, the Shin Bet, said. After
nearly two years, Channel 12 is revealing a secret of October 7. On that fateful
morning, a senior intelligence officer was living on a kibbutz on the Gaza
border, caught behind enemy lines.The security service faced a nightmare
scenario. One of its most knowledgeable officers was trapped metres from the
terrorists, and there was a real fear she would be taken alive. A former head of
the Shin Bet’s Southern District puts it bluntly: “Losing her would be like a
military intelligence division chief falling into enemy hands.”They were
desperate to retrieve her.And yet, even with a captured intelligence officer in
play, the unit did not run to her first. Across the kibbutz, families were
pressed against the handles of their safe-room doors, fighting off terrorists
trying to break in. The order of operations, the Shin Bet special forces fighter
insists, was never in doubt: the families came first. “We fight for people’s
lives first.”
The International Organization of the Muslim
Brotherhood.. Egypt's Battle That Has Not Ended
Tharwat El-Kherbawy/Al-Watan/September 16, 2026 (Translated
from Arabic by AI from Arabic)
When a group transforms from an idea living within the borders of a state into
an organization whose limbs are distributed among states, everything changes;
the nature of loyalty changes, the method of movement changes, the tools of
conflict change, and the homeland becomes for the organization one arena among
arenas of a broader project, not its ultimate goal. The Muslim Brotherhood,
which in its beginnings could be seen as an organization operating within
Egyptian society, over time began to build a cross-border structure, with its
leaderships in different countries, and its own resources, relationships, and
private pathways, until the International Organization became one of the most
important keys to understanding the transformations that have occurred in the
Muslim Brotherhood and its way of managing political conflict.
And the creation of this organization was not merely a geographical expansion of
a single group; it was a transition from an organization operating inside a
state to a project that can move between states, and can change its names, its
tools, and its discourse according to the environment in which it operates,
while retaining in its essence the unity of objective and organizational
reference.
In 1983, Mustafa Mashhour drafted a bylaw for the International Organization,
and the person responsible for the Brotherhood organization in each country
became called the "General Supervisor," with room left for each entity to choose
the name that suits the political and social environment in which it operates.
Then the International Guidance Bureau appeared, making it one of the frameworks
that brings together the organization's leaders of different nationalities under
a leadership linked to the group's center in Egypt. Here the nature of the game
changed; it was no longer a matter of a group operating inside a state and
seeking to reach power within it, but rather a transnational organization that
can move in more than one arena, and change its tools according to
circumstances, and search for its allies, resources, and sources of influence
outside the region in which it originated.
Since that time, the organization began to rearrange its papers. It wove
relations with various Western circles, benefited from research centers and
organizations and human rights institutions, and found in some of those
institutions a suitable gateway to re-present itself to the world in an image
different from its true image within its own societies. At the same time, it
worked to develop its financial resources and expand its economic activity
circles, benefiting from the vast geography in which the organization moves.
Thus, the International Organization, in one of its most dangerous
transformations, became more than just an organizational apparatus for a
religious-political group, but it became a structure that can adapt to a reality
that is always changing. And an organization that can adapt to each country, and
change its name, tools, and discourse without changing its goal, is more
dangerous than a local organization that can be monitored and whose borders are
known.
Then came the moment when the Brotherhood began to look at Egypt as the biggest
target, and the choice of Egypt was not arbitrary, as Egypt is not a marginal
state in the region, and it cannot be dealt with as a number among the numbers
of the Middle East. Egypt is the state which, if its position changes, the
balances of the entire region change. Therefore, reaching power in Egypt for the
Brotherhood project was bigger than just an electoral victory or a transfer of
power; it meant placing the center of gravity of the Arab world in the hands of
an organization that has extensions beyond the borders.
And here we come to the biggest question: Why was political Islam suitable for
the project of dismantling the region? Because a divided region is easier than a
cohesive region. And a state in which sects are in conflict is weaker than a
state that unites its citizens with a single national identity, and a state that
is preoccupied with an internal war cannot build a strong economy. And a state
in which political differences turn into a religious, sectarian, or ethnic
conflict becomes unable to look at what is happening outside its borders, and
this is the essence of the idea of dismantling. It is not always required that
an external force comes and occupies and destroys states. But it is smarter that
the sons of the state themselves become the tools of conflict, and that natural
differences turn into existential enmities, and that politics turns into a
creed, and creed into a weapon, then the state itself becomes an open arena of
conflict. And when that happens, the major powers do not need to destroy the
region by their own hands; the region will take care of the task itself, as for
the beneficiary, it is not difficult to see.
For open conflicts mean that the major power can appear at the time it chooses,
once as a mediator, once as a policeman, once as a supplier of weapons, and once
as a financier.
And here the United States, in the broader picture, becomes a beneficiary of
multiple roles in the region, a bank when needed, a policeman when necessary, a
weapons factory in wartime, and a political force capable of influencing the
directions of the conflict.
Therefore, and for this reason, the powers that want to dismantle Egypt and end
its existence decided to hold a conference in The Hague in which they use the
Brotherhood in order to prepare for a new stage in its major battle against
Egypt, for it does not want to weaken the region alone, but to reshape the
balances of power in it. But Egypt has always been something else, Egypt is not
the easiest link. And Egypt is not a state that can be toppled and then move on
to another as if nothing had happened.
Selected Face Book & X tweets
on September 16/2026
Bill L Cohn
Israel Must Not Help Saudi Arabia. They will demand land for
Peace and a Palestinian Land in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza which is part of
Israel. It would be rewarding the Europeans who are boycotting Judea and
Samaria, And the Qatari Influenced Trump Administration.
Fox News World
Teenage twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi were dragged from their beds
after joining anti-regime protests in Iran, according to their family. Taraneh,
now 20, has been sentenced to death. Romina received a 36-year prison sentence.
Their family says the sisters were tortured in custody and forced to confess.
Alberto Miguel Fernandez
"Fearing he would antagonize Iran and spoil a useful relationship, Turkish
President Erdoğan has squandered his chance to consolidate a bloc. In keeping
Tehran’s favor, he left an opening for the very adversary he signed the treaty
to hedge against to step into the gap."
Sara Ghorbani
https://x.com/d_white_rabbit/status/2099974948567589092/video/1
When Muslims tell you who they are, believe them! When they tell you if chosen
to a position of power, they will conquer you for the rest of eternity, believe
them. If they say they aim to subjugate you, believe them. If they say they plan
to colonize your countries, fight back. Resist while you can. And resist even if
you can’t. Because if you don’t, your only option is to submit.
Isaac
BREAKING NEWS | Israel and Saudi Arabia advance toward an alliance, with
Egyptian mediation, to combat the Houthis and overthrow the Iranian regime.
Without recognizing a Palestinian State. Everyone against the Islamic regime of
Iran.
The Middle East changes course minute by minute.
Θάνος Τζήμερος
@ThanosTzimeros
In October 1979, the Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci traveled to the (holy)
city of Qom in Iran to interview the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution.
To enter the room, Fallaci was forced to cover herself from head to toe in a
heavy black chador, leaving only her face visible. The discussion in the room
was tense from the start. Fallaci did not soften her questions. She asked
Ayatollah Khomeini about the executions of his political opponents (shortly
afterward, he executed allies too—thousands of leftists who had helped him seize
power), the closure of independent newspapers, and the loss of rights for
Iranian women under the new Islamic regime. When she asked about the compulsory
use of the veil, Khomeini claimed that the garment was intended to protect young
and respectable women. And he added: “If you don’t like Islamic dress, you are
not obliged to wear it.”Fallaci took his words at face value and replied: “How
kind of you, Imam. And since you mentioned it, I’ll remove this ridiculous,
medieval rag right away.” With a quick motion, she took the chador off her head,
leaving her hair completely exposed in front of the “Supreme Leader.”
Khomeini flew into a rage.
He stood up without saying another word and left the hall. However, Fallaci
refused to leave Iran until she completed the interview—a few days later,
naturally, bareheaded.
This scene became legendary in the history of journalism. It showed a journalist
who refused to submit to power, even in one of the most dangerous environments
imaginable. How many Fallacis are there today?