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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Gaza: IDF opens new corridor dividing Khan Younis
2025-07-17
[IsraelTimes] The IDF continued to maneuver in southern Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
, bolstering its presence in the area with a new strategic route and overnight Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
s that hit over 120 targets in the enclave.

The IDF said Wednesday it had opened a new strategic corridor in southern Gaza that would assist in defeating Hamas
..the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,...
in the Khan Younis area.

The route, dubbed Magen Oz, was established in recent weeks by the 36th Division amid efforts to clear Khan Younis of terror infrastructure and operatives. It bisects Khan Younis from east to west, the military announced

The IDF said the division’s 188th Armored Brigade and Golani Infantry Brigade met up recently, after completing the new corridor.

An illustration published by the IDF showed that the route connects to the Morag corridor, which separates Khan Younis from Rafah.

The IDF said the Magen Oz corridor is 15 kilometers long, and plays "a major part in exerting pressure on Hamas and defeating the Khan Younis Brigade."

During the division’s operations in Khan Younis, the IDF said troops killed dozens of operatives and destroyed Hamas infrastructure, including tunnels and caches of weapons.

The Magen Oz corridor in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, in a video published by the IDF on July 16, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

Meanwhile,
...back at the wreckage, Captain Poindexter wished he had thought to pack sun block...
the Israeli Air Force struck over 120 targets in Gaza over the past day, the military said, as five divisions continue ground operations across the Strip.

The IDF said the targets included cells of operatives, buildings used by terror groups, caches of weapons, tunnels, and other infrastructure.

Dozens of casualties were reported by media outlets in Gaza in the past day, but there were no immediate tolls from the Hamas-run health ministry or other health officials.

In northern Gaza’s Jabalia, the military said troops of the 401st Armored Brigade came under RPG fire, and within minutes, directed a dronezap on the cell that fired on the tank. No soldiers were maimed, according to the IDF.

In the Beit Hanoun area, reservists of the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade destroyed a rocket-launching site used to fire projectiles on southern Israel earlier this week, and killed operatives who were planting bombs in the area, the IDF said.

’ACCELERATED’ LIQUIDATIONS
The London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat reported Wednesday that Israel has "accelerated" liquidations in Gaza, targeting Hamas officials as well as members of other terror groups, such as the allied Paleostinian Islamic Jihad
...created after many members of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood decided the organization was becoming too moderate. Operations were conducted out of Egypt until 1981 when the group was exiled after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat. They worked out of Gaza until they were exiled to Lebanon in 1987, where they clove tightly to Hezbollah. In 1989 they moved to Damascus, where they remain a subsidiary of Hezbollah...
A Hamas source told the Arabic-language newspaper that four leaders of Hamas’s military wing had been killed, as well as others involved with the key intelligence and manufacturing divisions. Among the slain was reportedly Mohammed Faraj al-Ghoul, a former minister in the Hamas government who was still active in the organization. He was killed on Tuesday, the report said.

IDF soldier seriously hurt during fighting in south Gaza, army says

[IsraelTimes] An IDF soldier with the Kfir Brigade’s Shimshon Battalion was seriously wounded during fighting in the southern Gaza Strip earlier today, the military announces.

He was taken to a hospital for treatment and his family was notified, the army adds.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem: 'We will not submit to threats and will not surrender our weapons to the Israeli enemy.'
2025-07-03
[X] That means the hudna is over. Take your mark, IDF. Get set….

Or possibly not over yet. Update from An Nahar at 10:45 a.m. EDT:
Lebanon mulls phased disarmament amid 'difficult' debate within Hezbollah

Lebanese officials are racing against time to reach “acceptable formats” for a Lebanese paper responding to a U.S. proposal calling for an end to Israel’s attacks and the withdrawal of its forces in return for Hezbollah’s disarmament, a media report said.

“Hezbollah has partially opened the door to discussions over this topic, which had been a taboo in the past, without giving clear answers on whether or not it accepts the principle,” Lebanese sources informed on the ongoing deliberations told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

“Hezbollah is engaged in a difficult internal debate over the issue, in parallel with another debate within a panel comprising representatives of President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam, which is tasked with devising the Lebanese response paper,” the sources added.

Revealing that the panel’s discussions are seeking “acceptable formats that comply with the constitution,” the sources added that “the Lebanese response to the proposal is focused on specifying the priorities and phases according to which the agreement will be implemented, seeing as Israel has not committed to the ceasefire decision until the moment, despite Hezbollah’s compliance and its withdrawal from the South Litani area.”

The sources added that in its “preliminary response,” Hezbollah has demanded “real guarantees” in order to implement ant solution that might be reached.

Official Lebanese sources meanwhile revealed to Asharq al-Awsat that “Lebanon is readying a technical response prepared by the Lebanese Army to explain the step-by-step mechanism and what can be achieved if Israel carries out positive steps, such as withdrawal, ending airstrikes and releasing the captives.”

Political leaders are meanwhile seeking “guarantees that would pave the way for a gradual disarmament that would begin with heavy-caliber weapons and end with medium-caliber weapons,” the sources said.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
US gave Lebanon until today to respond to demand Hezbollah relinquish weapons, sources say
2025-07-02
[IsraelTimes] Lebanese officials are drafting a response to US demands for Hezbollah to relinquish its weapons across the country by November in exchange for a halt to IDF operations there, say two sources briefed on the matter.

The deadline has turned up the heat on the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group, which was struck hard by Israel during last year’s war, is suffering a financial crunch, and faces pressure in Lebanon to disarm.

Washington’s demands were conveyed by Thomas Barrack, US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, during a trip to Beirut on June 19.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, tell Reuters Barrack had shared a written roadmap with Lebanese officials and told them he expected to hear back by July 1 (today) on any proposed amendments.

The six-page document centers on the disarmament of Hezbollah and other terror groups, and urges Lebanon to improve ties with neighboring Syria and implement financial reforms, they say.

They say Barrack had urged Lebanese officials to seize the opportunity laid out in the roadmap as it “may not come up again.” He is set to return to Lebanon next week.

Barrack had not yet gotten Israeli approval for the roadmap, the sources say. There was no immediate response from the US State Department, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office, or Israel’s Foreign Ministry to Reuters requests for comment.

How will Lebanon respond to US paper?

[Naharnet] President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam have made “significant progress” in their deliberations ahead of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s second visit to Beirut, which is expected before July 10, Lebanese sources said.

Representatives of Aoun, Berri and Salam held a lengthy meeting Monday in Baabda and “unanimously agreed” on a draft paper in response to Barrack’s demands, the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, noting that the draft won the approval of Aoun, Berri and Salam and was also discussed between the Speaker and Hezbollah’s leadership.

The sources added that Lebanon will ask the U.S. to seriously press Israel in order to reach a real ceasefire, allow Lebanon to pacify the situation and “dispel Hezbollah’s concerns,” ahead of engaging in Barrack-sponsored negotiations that would “certainly lead to unanimity over arms monopolization, seeing as it is unacceptable for the talks to be conducted under Israel’s military pressure.”

“Hezbollah is still opening a window for obtaining guarantees, which is being comprehended by the three presidents, seeing us it needs to justify to its supporters the shift toward the monopolization of arms,” the sources added.

Hezbollah “needs to reassure its environment that giving up its weapons will be the reason behind Israel’s withdrawal and the release of its captives,” the sources went on to say.

Al-Akhbar newspaper meanwhile reported that Aoun, Berri and Salam have agreed that “there is no need to hold a special Cabinet session to discuss the U.S. paper, seeing as PM Najib Mikati’s government had agreed to the ceasefire agreement and its stipulations, and because Lebanon should not present additional commitments before knowing the next steps that will be taken by Israel.”

“The unified Lebanese stance is that Lebanon will inform the U.S. administration that Israel has to withdraw, release the captives and halt its daily attacks in return for a Lebanese commitment to tangible measures to control illegal weapons in the areas south and north of the Litani River,” al-Akhbar added.

But other sources told the daily that the U.S. and Israel “will come up with a lot of excuses to reject the settlement sought by Lebanon.”

Local and foreign parties are meanwhile trying to “intimidate” Lebanon by saying that “Israel is preparing to escalate its attacks with harsh airstrikes that could resemble the ferocity of the strikes that assassinated Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in addition to possible additional land operations,” al-Akhbar said.

Sources close to a top Lebanese leader have, however, expressed optimism that a solution for the issue of Hezbollah’s arms has been put on track, seeing as Iran might have told Hezbollah and Berri to “commit to the requirements of Resolution 1701 with its accurate stipulations,” the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported.

Hezbollah is meanwhile “inquiring about reconstruction” and Israel’s “withdrawal” ahead of agreeing to a timetable for weapons handover, informed sources told the daily, with presidential sources seeing “unprecedented progress in Hezbollah’s stance that made it agree that its arms be discussed in Cabinet soon despite all its declared stances that are rejecting that.”
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Western, UN and Lebanese officials dismiss reports on ending UNIFIL mission
2025-06-11
[NAHARNET] Western and United Nations
...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks...
diplomats dismissed as rumors claims that the U.N. Interim Force in Leb
...home of the original Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade....
(UNIFIL) was pulling out of the country, Saudi Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start...
's Asharq al-Awsat newspaper has reported.

The Lebanese government is expected to request the extension of the peacekeeping forces' mandate that expires in August.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Asharq al-Awsat that the reports about the withdrawal are ''inaccurate''. He did not elaborate further.

UNIFIL has been deployed in southern Lebanon since March 1978. Some amendments to its mandate were introduced after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and again after the July 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Debate rages every year over its duties as the deadline for renewing its mission approaches. Some countries have sought to grant the force more powers, which would put it at odds with Hezbollah that holds sway in the areas of its deployment.

Hezbollah was severely weakened after last year's war with Israel and the ensuing ceasefire agreement had demanded that the Iran-backed party remove its weapons from the South.

UNIFIL forces are deployed south of the Litani River and along the border with Israel. It boasts over 10,000 soldiers from some 50 countries, as well as 800 civilian employees.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told Asharq al-Awsat that the forces' greatest challenge is the lack of a long-term political solution between Lebanon and Israel.

UNIFIL continues to encourage the parties to renew their commitment to fully implementing U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and taking tangible steps to address pending issues related to it, including steps that would lead to a permanent ceasefire, he added.
Link


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Hezbollah captives may be freed as part of deal involving Israeli-Russian researcher
2025-05-27
[NAHARNET] There is an available chance to reactivate the file of the release of Lebanese captives held by Israel in conjunction with the expected release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped by Iraq in 2023 by the Iran-backed Ketaeb Hezbollah group, which is not linked to Leb
...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
's Hezbollah, Western diplomatic sources said.

The sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Hezbollah's leadership prepared a list containing the names of 15 Lebanese captives, of whom seven were captured during the latest Israel-Hezbollah war and eight were detained during the ceasefire period.

The daily added that the deal also involves an Iranian citizen and a Paleostinian national.

Sky News had reported Saturday that an agreement was reached to exchange prisoners between Iraq, Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate Jews Zionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
and Israel, which involves ''Hezbollah members, a Lebanese sea captain, an Israeli-Russian academic and an Iranian citizen.''
Related:
Ketaeb Hezbollah: 2015-09-12 Militants Claim Kidnapping of 18 Turks in Baghdad
Ketaeb Hezbollah: 2015-09-05 Iraq Soldier Killed in Search for Turk Abduction Suspect
Ketaeb Hezbollah: 2015-04-25 Iraq Lacks DNA Results to Test Body of 'Saddam Deputy'
Related:
Elizabeth Tsurkov 05/17/2025 
Elizabeth Tsurkov’s sister meets US hostage envoy: Kataeb Hezbollah, Iraqi PM ‘should consider what became of Hamas’

Elizabeth Tsurkov 04/19/2025 US envoy: I’m sure Edan Alexander is in a decent place; we’ll come for Hamas if he’s harmed
Elizabeth Tsurkov 04/16/2025 US hostage envoy ‘very disappointed’ in Iraqi PM for failure to free Israeli Elizabeth Tsurkov


Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Ex-Mustaqbal official clenches Beirut municipal seat from rival, broad coalition
2025-05-21
[NAHARNET] al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...

... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
Movement's former Beirut coordinator Mahmoud al-Jamal, a retired brigadier general, has managed to clench a seat on Beirut's new municipal council, preventing a list comprising most political parties from winning all 24 seats.

Al-Jamal's win came at the expense of Elie Andrea, a Greek Orthodox member of the rival list who was backed by Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut Elias Audi.

Andrea was the subject of ''dismay, especially among Greek Orthodox voters, which led to the redaction of his name by voters due to his bad performance as a member of the outgoing municipal council,'' the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Andrea had also faced a social media campaign against him prior to the elections against the backdrop of his dispute with outgoing municipal chief Jamal Itani, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported.

This is the first time in decades that sees Moslems outnumbering Christians in the municipal council. The country's rival political parties had formed an electoral alliance in Beirut under the excuse of preserving Christian-Moslem parity.

Political rivals such as Hezbollah and the Lebanese Forces
A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb...
came together to form the list, which also comprised the Amal Movement, the Kataeb Party, the Free Patriotic Movement
Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic...
, al-Ahbash, the Tashnag Party
Socialist party representing the Armenian diaspora in Leb. They're Christians, but they try to remain neutral, which means they get shot at without shooting back...
, the Hunchak Party, the Progressive Socialist Party and MP Fouad Makhzoumi.

Al-Jamal's list was backed by MP Nabil Bader and the Jamaa Islamiya and apparently received votes from Mustaqbal supporters.

Four other lists were also formed in the capital, including one by the Beirut Madinati civil society group, which won one third of the capital's votes in the 2016 polls.

Voter turnout reached only 21% in Beirut, which has historically witnessed similar low turnout levels.

Related:
Elias Audi 08/31/2021 Rahi: Corruption Has Spread in Lebanese Society

Elias Audi 10/19/2020 Top Christian clerics urge Lebanese leaders to agree on government


Related:
Jamal Itani 08/05/2020 Death toll from Beirut blast reaches 100 but is expected to rise even further

Related:
Hezbollah: 2025-05-20 Three killed in car bomb blast targeting police station in east Syria
Hezbollah: 2025-05-20 IDF says it killed Hezbollah operative in south Lebanon drone strike
Hezbollah: 2025-05-20 Terror group says senior operative killed in Israeli special forces op in south Gaza
Related:
Lebanese Forces: 2025-05-20 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Lebanese Forces: 2025-05-16 Geagea urges Hezbollah to ''draw lessons'' from what's happening in region
Lebanese Forces: 2025-05-07 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet
Related:
Amal Movement: 2025-05-20 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Amal Movement: 2025-05-07 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet
Amal Movement: 2025-02-16 Lebanon detains 25 people for questioning over attack on UN peacekeepers convoy in Beirut
Related:
Kataeb Party: 2025-05-20 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Kataeb Party: 2025-05-07 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet
Kataeb Party: 2023-09-06 Gemayel says opposition to confront 'Hezbollah's coup'
Related:
Free Patriotic Movement: 2025-05-20 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Free Patriotic Movement: 2025-05-07 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet
Free Patriotic Movement: 2025-01-10 Lebanon's New President: An American Wedge into a Weakened 'Axis of Resistance'
Related:
Tashnag Party: 2025-05-20 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Tashnag Party: 2025-05-07 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet
Tashnag Party: 2022-10-30 Bassil calls on Mikati to quit, Hezbollah to boycott govt. meetings
Related:
Hunchak Party: 2025-05-20 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Hunchak Party: 2025-05-07 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet
Related:
Progressive Socialist Party: 2025-05-07 Report: US pressing Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and respect ceasefire — Naharnet
Progressive Socialist Party: 2025-03-08 Syrian authorities arrest the retired general, accused of orchestrating high-profile assassinations
Progressive Socialist Party: 2025-03-07 Assad remnants launch deadly attacks on Damascus forces in western Syria, 16 HTS turbans toes up UPDATE: Vicious HTS response
Related:
Fouad Makhzoumi 05/20/2025 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Fouad Makhzoumi 05/07/2025 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet
Fouad Makhzoumi 06/14/2022 Bassil warns against Line 29, says won't name Miqati as PM

Related:
Nabil Bader 05/20/2025 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Nabil Bader 05/07/2025 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet

Related:
Jamaa Islamiya: 2025-05-20 Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins
Jamaa Islamiya: 2025-05-07 Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet
Jamaa Islamiya: 2025-05-05 Aoun says disarmament to happen through dialogue, not force — Naharnet
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
21 suspects held by Lebanon for spying on Hezbollah, in what has become ‘nightmare’ for terror group — report
2025-05-18
[IsraelTimes] Lebanese authorities are holding 21 people accused of spying on Hezbollah for Israel, with many of them managing to get close to the Iran-backed terror group’s leadership, the London-based Arabic Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reports.

According to the report, Israeli espionage activities have become a "nightmare" for Hezbollah, whose leadership was eliminated throughout the course of an over-year-long conflict that the terror group instigated in support of Hamas
..the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,...
in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
, a day after the October 7, 2023, massacre.

The report says that out of the 21 suspects, 13 are Lebanese citizens, six are Syrian, and two are Paleostinians, and were recruited by the Mosssd
...sees all, knows all, gets 'em all in the end...
before and after the beginning of the war, a source in Leb
...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
’s Justice Ministry says.

One of the most dangerous alleged spies arrested was Mohammed Salah, the son of an elite Radwan Force commander, the source says, adding he was critical in the elimination of some of the terror group’s key figures, including Hassan Bdair in March.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Salam says ''no turning back'' in plans to monopolize arms, Hezbollah will ‘’go far’’ on issue - no donor reconstruction until complete
2025-05-17
[NAHARNET] Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said that Lebanon ''has managed to pave the way for a promising new start, despite all the difficulties that the project of rebuilding confidence and the course of reform are facing.''

''There will be no turning back in the project of consolidating the monopoly of arms in the hands of the Lebanese state alone, which should be in charge of the war and peace decisions and of defending its land and sons -- all its sons -- with the means allowed by international laws and norms,'' Salam added, in an interview with the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

''The entire Lebanese state is seeking full Israeli withdrawal from its land and to prevent all forms of violations. The government is also working on rallying efforts to launch the reconstruction process,'' Salam went on to say.

Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of arms handover
[NAHARNET] Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of the handover of its weapons to the Lebanese state and it will ''embarrass'' everyone, a source close to Hezbollah said.

''Consensus between Hezbollah and the Lebanese president has become bigger than the issue of arms handover and dialogue between Presidenty Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah is ongoing, without specifying any deadlines or dates,'' the source added, in remarks to Al-Arabiya's Al-Hadath channel.

''The handover of weapons is possible, in return for gains for Hezbollah such as Israel's withdrawal and reconstruction,'' the source said, adding that ''Hezbollah's acceptance to hand over its weapons does not mean giving them up for nothing in return.''

''Hezbollah is convinced that the slogans it voiced in the past and which needed weapons are no longer existent and it is fully cooperating with Aoun and offering him solutions related to its heavy and strategic weapons,'' the source revealed.

''President Aoun knows Hezbollah's concerns as to the withdrawal of its arms and is working on resolving the difficulties, while Hezbollah knows well the magnitude of international pressure on the president for its disarmament,'' the source went on to say.

Report: No reconstruction funds before reforms and Hezbollah disarmament
[NAHARNET] Lebanese officials have sensed reluctance from major powers, particularly Arab countries, to provide reconstruction funds, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday.

''Arab and donor countries have informed Leb
...The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. Only one of those statements is an exaggeration....
that they will not to engage in the reconstruction project until the vision for Lebanon and the region becomes clear. According to their definition, reconstruction is linked to the state's ability to undertake necessary reforms, fully disarm Hezbollah and prevent it from rebuilding its military and financial capabilities,'' the daily said.

''These countries do not want to engage in such a project while the situation has not yet reached a peaceful path,'' the newspaper added.

All the Arab and European promises are ''awaiting serious action by the Lebanese state and signals from Washington,'' the daily said.
Related:
Nawaf Salam 05/13/2025 Salam vows to confront electoral bribery and security violators
Nawaf Salam 05/11/2025 Beirut Airport security overhaul thwarting Hezbollah smuggling, satisfying Israeli, US officials — report
Nawaf Salam 05/07/2025 Palestinian president confirms Beirut visit after disarmament call — Naharnet

Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Baabda says Qassem''s latest stances ''realistic''
2025-05-15
[NAHARNET] The latest stances of Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem
... the Grand Vizier of the Hezbullies...
were ''realistic,'' Lebanese Presidency sources said.

''Every now and then some Hezbollah officials issue some stances that do not reflect this pragmatism, but what's certain is that the more they show cooperation, the more things become easier to implement,'' the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

''The president had repeatedly talked about Hezbollah's cooperation as to the withdrawal of arms south of the Litani River and Qassem's remarks reflect a reassuring atmosphere in terms of the implementation of Resolution 1701 and what stemmed from it in the agreement reached in November 2024 on which Hezbollah agreed,'' the sources added.

As for Qassem's warnings that some want to isolate Hezbollah, the sources said: ''No one wants to isolate them and ignoring them is out of the question. Hezbollah is represented in parliament and government and talking about isolation is not logical.''
Link


Africa Horn
Somalia banks on Arab League in Al-Shabaab war
2025-05-02
It’s absolutely fascinating to watch the great world come so quickly to terms with Uncle Sugar shutting down the donations mill. It’s even more interesting to see so many unquestioningly pick up the thread of donations without allowing so much as a stitch to be dropped, never seeming to ask whether these donations and these recipients are worthy and worthwhile — such is the power of Trump-hate.
[Garowe] The Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
countries should invest in the fight against violent mostly peaceful extremism in Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said, while referring to declining support from Western nations, which have reduced their engagements.

Through an open letter to Asharq al-Awsat, the London-based Arab Daily paper, Hassan Sheikh admits challenges in fighting al-Shabaab
... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
and ISIS murderous Moslems, adding that the group's continued activities shall destabilise the Horn of Africa region.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously survived liquidation attempts waged by the al-Shabaab murderous Moslems. According to him, the support from the wealthy Arab League countries would significantly impact the fight against the groups.

The Somali leader also said the local forces have intercepted drones and weapons being smuggled to the country from Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of...
through the Iran's Houthi sock puppets
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The legitimate Yemeni government has accused the them of having ties to the Iranian government. Honest they did. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews They like shooting off... ummm... missiles that they would have us believe they make at home in their basements. On the plus side, they did murder Ali Abdullah Saleh, which was the only way the country was ever going to be rid of him...
s, who allegedly have direct links with the al-Shabaab and ISIS murderous Moslems.

These assertions, which have not been independently verified and have not previously appeared in public intelligence reports, appeared designed to galvanise concern among Arab powers about the transnational dimension of Somalia’s murderous Moslem threats.

Somalia forces, he added, have made significant gains in the fight against al-Shabaab, despite a series of setbacks in recent weeks. The government troops lost the strategic Adan Yabaal town within the Middle Shabelle region recently. He lauded regional forces in Puntland
...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion...
for putting ISIS murderous Moslems at bay.

Support from the Arab world is now not only necessary — it is indispensable, Mohamud wrote, warning that without enhanced cooperation, ISIS remnants entrenched in Somalia’s northeast could flee by sea to the Arabian Peninsula.

Egypt deployed troops to Somalia recently, who will take part in the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), and the country, a senior member of the vaporous Arab League, has volunteered to support the government troops.

The appeal also comes at a time when several countries are showing interest in Somalia, ranging from oil to trade. The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire...
, a key supporter of the Arab League countries, has also been a major security and development partner of Somalia for the last 15 years.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
No reconstruction or aid unless Hezbollah disarmed: Leb foreign minister Rajji
2025-04-12
[AnNahar] Leb
...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
has been clearly informed that it can't rebuild what Israel has destroyed in more than a year of war with Hezbollah unless Hezbollah is disarmed.

Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji told Asharq al-Awsat, in remarks published Friday, that Deputy U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Morgan Ortagus has herself, among others before her, told Lebanese leaders that Lebanon will not receive foreign aid before disarming Hezbollah.

"The U.S. administration wants to help Lebanon liberate its land, rebuild (war-hit regions), and revive its economy, but in return two things are required of us - economic reforms and arms monopoly," Rajji said, adding that Ortagus did not mention a timeframe but said these prerequisites must be achieved as soon as possible and that what has been done is "good but not enough."

In an interview with al-Arabiya this week, Ortagus said she was encouraged by her meetings in Lebanon. "Yes and no," she answered, once asked if the Lebanese government is doing a good job. The government is working "very quickly", she said, but added that the situation is "not easy" and that reforms and change are "challenging" and will take time.

The U.S. envoy had said last month that Washington will be "bringing together Lebanon and Israel for talks aimed at diplomatically resolving several outstanding issues between the two countries" -- the release of Lebanese prisoners, the remaining disputed points along the Blue Line, and the remaining 5 "Strategic" hills where Israeli forces are still deployed in south Lebanon. She said she hopes diplomat-led working groups will soon negotiate these outstanding issues.

"The Israeli and the Americans want to form three working groups to negotiate (these issues) but we told them Lebanon is only ready to negotiate the disputed points along the Blue Line as Israel's withdrawal and the release of prisoners are non-negotiables and need to be done immediately and without conditions.

He added that the U.S. has suggested these working groups be civilian but that this topic has not been raised again since.

Lebanon wants the border demarcation to be negotiated through a military committee and not through direct talks -- like in 2022 when Lebanese and Israeli leaders separately signed a U.S.-brokered maritime demarcation deal after months of indirect talks -- and Lebanese politicians have unanimously said that the normalization of ties with Israel and direct negotiations are not on the table.

"Lebanon is calling on all countries to pressure Israel to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories. Hezbollah will then have no excuse to hold onto its weapons and this will strengthen the position of the Lebanese state, which insists on liberating its land through diplomacy. However,
a clean conscience makes a soft pillow...
until now, the Israelis are refusing to respond," Rajji said.

Israel deems the five hilltops "strategic" and says they are important for security and provide key vantage points to monitor Hezbollah movements and prevent potential threats along the border.

Israel has also continued to launch strikes on Lebanon despite a November ceasefire thon the lamly halted more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah. Israel says the strikes target Hezbollah members or weapons but it has also targeted prefabricated homes set up for residents whose homes in south Lebanon were destroyed in the conflict.
Link


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Over 30 airport workers expelled over suspected Hezbollah ties
2025-04-07
[AnNahar] Lebanese authorities have started "curbing Hezbollah’s influence at the Rafik Hariri International Airport," after the Airport Security Apparatus revoked the authorizations of a large number of airport workers who are loyal to Hezbollah, Saudi Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start...
’s Asharq al-Awsat newspaper has reported.

"More than 30 airport workers have been informed of the expiry of the permits granted to them and that it will not be possible to renew them," an informed source at the airport told the daily.

This decision "did not only involve workers who carry travelers’ luggage into and from the airport, but also those who carry luggage into and from planes, in addition to a number of employees who worked at the department of baggage inspection and lost items," the source said.

"The decision represented a shock to those affected by the expulsion, especially that they spent long years working at the airport while enjoying freedom of action and without any accountability," the source added.

These measures are aimed at "enhancing the security of the airport and travelers and weakening Hezbollah’s influence in it to the greatest extent," the source went on to say, noting that those expelled were "Hezbollah’s eyes and ears inside the airport and a main source of the information it used to gather about the movement of travelers from and into the airport."

"Granting them work and airport access permits used to take place following requests and pressure from Hezbollah, and anyone who was not loyal to Hezbollah used to be denied such a permit, which broadened its influence at the airport for long decades," the source added.

A security source meanwhile told Asharq al-Awsat that similar measures will target members and officers from the customs administration, Internal Security Forces and General Security, adding that many are suspected of having facilitated Hezbollah’s transactions over the past period.
Link



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