In a <a href="https://x.com/DrSamirGeagea/status/2069000722847338782">letter</a> addressed to Vice President JD Vance on Monday, the leader of the Lebanese Forces — the largest Christian party in Lebanon — asked that the United States support the Lebanese state in extending full authority over all of its territory, restrict weapons to legitimate institutions, and end Hezbollah’s military and security presence.
Samir Geagea’s letter came after <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-new-us-iran-lebanon-mechanism-to-include-iran-qatar-pakistan-exclude-israel-and-limit-israeli-response-to-threats-pm-idf-faces-no-restrictions/">reports</a> that a new Lebanon mechanism emerging from U.S.-Iran talks would include Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan, while excluding Israel and limiting Israeli responses to threats from Lebanon. The reported framework would allow Israel to respond only to “imminent threats,” rather than the broader “emerging threats” standard included in the 2024 mechanism, according to The Times of Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on the report, saying the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) faced “no restrictions” in Lebanon.
Geagea said the greatest contribution the United States could make at this stage would be to support the Lebanese state as the sole national authority and not as a matter to be negotiated with Iran. Geagea also asked for assurances that any negotiations over Lebanon go through the Lebanese state alone. That, Geagea argued, would be the most meaningful step for Lebanon’s Christians and all Lebanese citizens because it would open the door to a sovereign state capable of providing security, stability, and prosperity.
The Lebanese Christian leader said he reviewed Vance&#8217;s statement on Iran with “interest and appreciation.” He said the vice president&#8217;s remarks reflected “genuine friendship and profound concern” not only for Lebanese Christians, but for Lebanon as a whole.
Geagea framed Lebanon’s Christians as a stabilizing force in the country’s modern history, describing them as committed to openness, moderation, freedom, and cultural life in a region marked by instability. He argued that Lebanon’s pluralism, public freedoms, and open system have long made the country distinct in the Middle East.
But Geagea said the last four decades have been especially difficult for Lebanese Christians and other Lebanese citizens because of Hezbollah’s rise as a military and security organization. He accused Hezbollah of usurping national decision-making, weakening legitimate institutions, blocking the formation of an effective state, and dragging Lebanon into conflicts tied to Iranian agendas rather than Lebanese interests.
The impact, he wrote, has been economic decline, fewer job opportunities, and the emigration of many Lebanese, including a significant number of Christians seeking safety, stability, and a dignified life.
Geagea’s warning comes as the IDF has accused Hezbollah operatives of using Christian areas as cover. Earlier this month, the <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-dozens-of-hezbollah-members-hiding-in-christian-neighborhood-in-tyre-warns-they-arent-safe-there/">IDF said</a> dozens of Hezbollah members were hiding inside a Christian neighborhood in the coastal city of Tyre, an area that had not been included in a previous evacuation warning.
Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokeswoman, said the military had issued an evacuation warning for parts of Tyre because of Hezbollah activity and alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement, but said that warning did not include the city’s Christian neighborhood.
According to Waweya, the IDF later identified activity by dozens of Hezbollah operatives inside that Christian neighborhood.
“This is not the first time we have exposed Hezbollah activity from within Christian areas, based on its belief that these areas provide it with a safer refuge,” Waweya said.
She called on residents to “demand the removal of the terror organization’s operatives from your areas,” and warned Hezbollah members that they were “not safe there.” If they continued operating from inside the area, she said, the IDF would issue evacuation instructions for the Christian neighborhood and take action against them.
The IDF’s allegation adds weight to the concern Geagea raised in his letter: that Hezbollah’s military presence has weakened the Lebanese state and exposed Lebanese civilians, including Christians, to instability and danger.
Geagea closed by thanking Vance again for his concern and said he hoped the United States would remain a key partner in helping Lebanon reclaim its role as a model of freedom, pluralism, and peace in the Middle East.

Road To Damascus Littered With War Wreckage Following Fall Of Assad Regime

Leader Of Lebanon’s Largest Christian Party Begs Trump/Vance To Change Terms Of Iran Deal

Israel

JD Vance

Lebanon

A Hezbollah strike on an Israeli tank in southern Lebanon killed four IDF soldiers Friday — including a battalion commander — raising fresh doubts about whether the Iranian-backed militia will honor terms that Iran agreed to earlier this week in the memorandum of understanding with the United States.
The attack struck near the Lebanese village of Tebnit overnight, when &#8220;a suspicious target impacted an IDF tank,&#8221; an IDF official told <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/06/19/four-israeli-soldiers-killed-combat-lebanon-imperils-us-iran-deal/">The Washington Post</a>. Israel responded by striking multiple Hezbollah infrastructure sites across Nabatieh and other areas of southern and eastern Lebanon.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
‼️ ANOTHER BLATANT CEASEFIRE VIOLATION: As a result of an explosive drone impact in southern Lebanon, an IDF reserve officer was severely injured, and 3 reserve NCOs &amp; an NCO were lightly injured.
This incident follows numerous blatant ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Just… <a href="https://t.co/I0LgRUk8sH">https://t.co/I0LgRUk8sH</a>
&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://x.com/IDF/status/2067882793753829685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The fallout was swift: Vice President JD Vance scrapped a planned trip to Switzerland, where he was to have led American negotiators, and both Washington and Tehran announced they were postponing the talks.
The memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/17/middleeast/us-iran-war-mou-text-intl">explicitly declares</a> &#8220;the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,&#8221; with both parties pledging to &#8220;refrain from the threat or use of force against each other.&#8221; Hezbollah is an ally of Iran and fought alongside Iranian forces in the current war — making its continued attacks a direct challenge to Tehran&#8217;s commitments under the deal.
Trump signaled his expectations on Thursday in a social media post, writing: &#8220;We expect a complete Ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.&#8221; Within hours, four Israeli soldiers were dead.
Ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s government called for intensifying strikes against Hezbollah following Friday&#8217;s deaths. Friday&#8217;s strike did not come out of nowhere. It is the latest episode in a campaign of violence that Hezbollah has sustained across multiple ceasefires and diplomatic agreements.
Hezbollah opened its current front against Israel on October 8, 2023 — the day after Hamas&#8217;s massacre — firing rockets and guided missiles at Israeli border communities in what it called solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. What began as sporadic fire escalated into one of the most sustained cross-border bombardments in the history of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
By the time a ceasefire halted major fighting on November 27, 2024, Hezbollah had <a href="https://israel-alma.org/summary-of-war-data-israel-northern-arena-2023-2024/">carried out</a> 5,185 documented attack waves against Israel — firing over 10,000 rockets, and deploying anti-tank missiles, suicide drones, and air defense systems. The deadliest single strike of that phase killed 12 children and teenagers on a soccer field in the Druze village of Majdal Shams on July 27, 2024. October 2024 alone saw 1,158 attacks — the most intense single month of the conflict.
Since a new ceasefire took effect on April 17, 2026, Hezbollah has carried out 975 documented attack waves — 745 targeting IDF forces operating inside Lebanon and 230 directed at Israeli territory itself. Seventeen IDF soldiers and one Israeli civilian have been killed during that ceasefire period alone, according to the Alma Research and Education Center, which tracks attacks on Israel&#8217;s northern front.
Neither the April ceasefire nor a subsequent Statement of Principles issued June 3 slowed Hezbollah&#8217;s operational tempo. In the <a href="https://israel-alma.org/weekly-report-hezbollah-attacks-against-israel-june-1-7-2026/">first seven days</a> of June alone, Hezbollah launched 198 attack waves, including 93 rocket and missile barrages against IDF forces and 30 strikes at Israeli territory.
Friday&#8217;s killing of four soldiers — coming within 48 hours of a U.S.-Iran agreement committing both sides and their allies to permanent cessation of hostilities — suggests that whatever Tehran agreed to in Versailles, its proxy Hezbollah, as always, has no intention of holding to it.

ISRAEL-US-LEBANON-IRAN-WAR

Hezbollah Kills Four Israeli Soldiers In Attack Just Two Days After U.S.-Iran Peace Deal

Donald Trump

Hezbollah

Iran

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

United States

A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is holding for now, but pressure is mounting across multiple fronts.
Here is a breakdown of where the conflict stands:
<h3>Iran Floats Proposal, Sidesteps Nuclear Demands</h3>
The Iranian regime has reportedly floated a new proposal to the United States: end the war and lift the blockade in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/iran-offers-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-if-u-s-lifts-its-blockade-and-the-war-ends-officials-say">Associated Press</a>. The proposal does not immediately address U.S. demands regarding Iran’s nuclear program and instead calls for ending the conflict before any negotiations on the issue take place.
President Donald Trump is expected to meet with his top national security officials to discuss the situation in Iran, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/27/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-israel#cmoh5xuho00003b6q0dewnpeg">CNN reported</a>. The current ceasefire was extended for an unspecified period last week as Trump weighs his next moves. Options under consideration likely include resuming the U.S. bombing campaign, maintaining economic pressure and the naval blockade to force Iran back to the negotiating table, or pursuing a broader end to the war.
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, on Monday accused Tehran of stalling negotiations and humiliating the American government, saying Iran’s leadership is “very skillful at not negotiating” after U.S. envoys traveled for talks that yielded no results, according to Reuters.
“The Iranians are obviously very skilled ⁠at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad ​and then leave again without any result,” <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/5850794-germany-chancellor-merz-iran-us/">Merz said</a>. “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible.”
U.S. Blockade Chokes Strait of Hormuz Traffic
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply as the U.S. Navy implemented a blockade on ships going to or from Iranian ports.
According to Reuters, only seven vessels have passed through the strait in the past day, down from the 125-140 that typically transited before Operation Epic Fury began in February.
At least six vessels carrying 10.5 million barrels of Iranian oil were forced back to port, according to the satellite tracker, <a href="https://x.com/TankerTrackers/status/2048431267742401020?s=20">TankerTrackers.com.</a> Two additional tankers carrying around four million barrels of Iranian oil reportedly managed to sail past the blockade on April 24.
Since the blockade was announced on April 13, about 37 vessels have been turned back, <a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2048142422702510115">according to the U.S. Central Command</a>.
The U.S. has also upped its presence in the region with the arrival of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft strike group to the Middle East. It joins the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford strike groups. Together, they bring more than 200 aircraft and approximately 15,000 Sailors and Marines to the region.
The Iranian regime is still attempting to assert its authority in the strait, despite its depleted navy. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran’s parliament, said the country’s armed forces would take full authority over the strait under a proposed law aimed at regulating transit and potentially barring “hostile vessels,” reported the <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/iran-says-its-armed-forces-should-be-authority-for-strait-of-hormuz/">Times of Israel</a>. So far, Iran has used small vessels to intimidate and shoot at commercial vessels attempting to transit.
<h3>Iranian Diplomat On Tour</h3>
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, is on a multi-stop “timely tour” to coordinate with key allies as tensions escalate with the United States.
Ahead of the trip, Araghchi announced he would visit Pakistan, Oman, and Russia to consult on regional developments, emphasizing that “our neighbors are our priority.”
In Pakistan, he described his visit as “very fruitful,” praising Islamabad’s role in attempting to restore peace in the region through mediating. He added that he has yet to see if the “U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy.”
In Oman, Araghchi <a href="https://x.com/araghchi/status/2048519460793761995">highlighted</a> discussions focused on the Strait of Hormuz, stressing ensuring “safe transit that is to benefit of all dear neighbors and the world,” adding again that “our neighbors are our priority.”
During the current conflict, Iran has fired missiles or drones affecting at least a dozen countries across the region, including Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Araghchi later traveled to Russia, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. According to The Times of Israel, Putin said Moscow would “do everything” possible to help secure peace in the Middle East and expressed hope that stability would return to the region. During the visit, Araghchi blamed the United States for the failure of recent negotiations, arguing that “excessive demands” from Washington derailed talks that had otherwise made progress.
“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi.
Fighting Reignites Along Israel-Lebanon Border
Fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah is resuming despite an extended ceasefire.
Hezbollah launched a series of drone attacks in recent days, including a strike on Monday morning that triggered air-raid sirens across in northern Israel and sent thousands of civilians rushing to shelters.
The Israel Defense Forces said it fired an interceptor missile at the incoming UAV, but ultimately lost contact with the target. No injuries were reported, though additional alerts were activated over concerns of falling debris, and images circulated of children taking cover in shelters.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;הפסקת אש&#8221; בצפון: 
האזעקות בצהריים בשל חדירת שלושה כטבמים 
לגליל המערבי, תפסו תלמידים בבתי ספר בעיצומם של הלימודים. נותר להם לשכב ולשים ידיים על הראש. 
זו השיגרה כאן מאז שהוכרזה הפסקת האש בלבנון: ירי רקטות וכטבמים, פיצוצים, מטוסי קרב וכל מה שלא נופל תחת ההגדרה של הפסקת אש. <a href="https://t.co/OGXYlfOh0n">pic.twitter.com/OGXYlfOh0n</a>
— Rubi Hammerschlag | רובי המרשלג (@rubih67) <a href="https://twitter.com/rubih67/status/2048381773822726342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The attack caused officials in northern border towns to suspend school and increase security restrictions to be stronger than those implemented by Israel’s official Home Front Command.
Israel has stepped up its military operations in Lebanon, carrying out a wave of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley and southern regions. Targets included rocket-launching cells, a loaded launcher ready for immediate use, and weapons storage facilities. The military also said it has dismantled more than 50 terrorist sites in recent days, including a weapons cache discovered inside a children’s room.
The escalation comes despite a recent agreement to extend the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon by three weeks following meetings at the White House involving their ambassadors, President Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 
Following a meeting with the U.N.’s special coordinator for Lebanon, Gideon Sa&#8217;ar <a href="https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/2048745481543528640">said Monday</a> Hezbollah continues to violate the ceasefire “against Lebanon’s interests.”

Mojtaba and Trump

Where Things Stand In The Iran War Right Now

Global Politics

World

Diplomats from Israel and Lebanon are set to meet today for a second round of face-to-face negotiations, as both sides weigh whether a fragile ceasefire can be extended and potentially transformed into a longer-term framework for peace.
The meeting comes as tensions remain high, with Israeli officials accusing Hezbollah of repeatedly violating the ceasefire. A recent Israeli strike targeting what it said was a threat to troops reportedly resulted in journalist casualties.
The talks, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will bring together senior U.S. and regional officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Counselor Michael Needham, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad.
Lebanon is reportedly seeking a one-month extension of the current ceasefire.
The current agreement was announced by President Donald Trump as a 10-day pause that took effect at 5 p.m. ET on April 16, following calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It allows Israel to take self-defense measures while requiring Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from “carrying out attacks, operations, or hostile activities against Israeli targets.”
While Lebanese authorities have long sought to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group remains one of the most powerful political and military forces in the country. At the same time, it has been significantly weakened since launching attacks on Israel in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, assault. Israel’s response—an extensive air campaign and ground invasion—killed longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and degraded much of the group’s operational capacity.
Trump has emphasized that the arrangement is separate from broader U.S. efforts involving Iran.
“This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezbollah situation in an appropriate manner,” Trump said last week. “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”
Despite the diplomatic push, tensions on the ground remain high. Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire multiple times and recently conducted a strike against terrorists in vehicles it says approached Israeli troops “in a manner that posed an immediate threat to their safety.” In response, the Israeli air force struck one of the vehicles, and a structure the individuals fled into.
The strike reportedly also resulted in the death of journalist Amal Khalil, who worked for the pro-Hezbollah outlet Al Akhbar, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Another photojournalist was reportedly injured.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the incident, writing on X that “targeting journalists and obstructing the access of rescue teams to them, and then the renewed targeting of those teams after they’d arrived, constitute described war crimes.” 

The Israeli military acknowledged that two journalists were injured in the strike, but denied deliberately targeting media personnel.
The first round of talks, held on April 14, was described by the State Department as “productive,” raising cautious optimism for continued diplomacy. U.S. officials have said a sustained agreement could unlock significant reconstruction assistance for Lebanon, help stabilize its economy, and expand regional investment opportunities.
Lebanese officials have stressed the importance of fully implementing the cessation of hostilities agreement, alongside addressing the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel has expressed a willingness “to engage in direct negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues and achieve a durable peace that will strengthen security, stability, and prosperity in the region.”
The negotiations mark the most significant high-level engagement between Israel and Lebanon since 1993 and are seen as a potential stepping stone toward formal diplomatic talks between the two countries.
On the ground, Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to push Hezbollah away from the border. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has refused to disarm unless Israel fully withdraws, though it has largely adhered to the ceasefire while publicly opposing the negotiations.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-restores-damaged-christian-statue-in-lebanon-punishes-soldiers-responsible?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=After+Jesus+Statue+Is+Vandalized%2C+Israel+Takes+Swift+Action">Controversy erupted</a> in recent days after an Israeli soldier damaged a statue of Jesus in the southern Lebanese village of Debel, prompting swift condemnation and a formal response from the Israel Defense Forces.
In a statement on X, the IDF expressed “deep regret,” calling the act a “moral failure” that contradicts its core values. The soldier responsible, along with the individual who filmed the incident, has been removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days of military detention. Additional troops present have been called in for review, with the Chief of the General Staff stating the conduct “far exceeds any acceptable standard.”
The IDF replaced the statue in “full coordination” with the local Christian community.

Golan Heights .Israel .Border

What To Know As Israel And Lebanon Enter Another Round Of High-Stakes Negotiations

Marco Rubio

In a move that underscores a commitment to religious freedom and moral accountability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Tuesday that they have successfully replaced a statue of Jesus in the southern Lebanese village of Debel. The original religious monument had been damaged by a lone Israeli soldier, sparking immediate condemnation from Israel’s military leadership and a swift effort to make amends.
The IDF’s Northern Command spearheaded the restoration, working in &#8220;full coordination&#8221; with the local Christian community to ensure the sacred symbol was replaced.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A short while ago, in full coordination with the local community of Debel in southern Lebanon, the damaged statue was replaced by IDF troops. The Northern Command worked to coordinate the replacement of the statue from the moment it received the report of the incident.
The IDF… <a href="https://t.co/nGh1s1iia1">pic.twitter.com/nGh1s1iia1</a>
&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/2046597268904558765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In a <a href="https://x.com/IDF/status/2046589834341351758">statement</a> released on X, the IDF expressed &#8220;deep regret&#8221; over the incident, characterizing the destruction as a &#8220;moral failure&#8221; that contradicts the fundamental values of the Jewish state and its military.
Beyond merely replacing the physical property, Israel took decisive disciplinary action to uphold its standards of conduct. The soldier who damaged the statue and the individual who filmed the act have both been removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days of military detention. Furthermore, the remaining troops present during the incident have been summoned for clarification discussions, with the Chief of the General Staff reinforcing that such behavior &#8220;far exceeds any acceptable standard.&#8221;
This swift restorative justice stands in stark contrast to the treatment of Christian institutions in many neighboring Muslim and Arab states. While Israel officially recognizes ten Christian denominations and grants them internal autonomy, other nations in the region continue to enforce systemic prohibitions. In Saudi Arabia, the construction of public Christian churches remains strictly forbidden under a rigid interpretation of Islamic law. In Somalia and Yemen, open Christian worship is virtually non-existent, often carrying the threat of execution by extremist groups like al-Shabaab or the Houthis.
The honorable conduct displayed in Debel also highlights a growing global disparity in religious safety. While Israel took immediate steps to punish its own for a single act of vandalism, Christian communities elsewhere face far more lethal threats. In Nigeria, militant groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to bomb and burn churches, with over 3,400 Christians killed in 2025 alone. Similarly, in Pakistan, &#8220;mob justice&#8221; frequently leads to the destruction of dozens of churches over mere rumors of blasphemy.
By taking responsibility for the actions of a few and working with Lebanese locals to restore their religious heritage, Israel has demonstrated a Western-style tolerance that remains rare in the Middle East. The IDF has pledged to reinforce procedures regarding religious symbols for all troops, ensuring that the protection of faith remains a cornerstone of its operational ethics.

Silhouette of soldier saluting with Israel flag on background of sunrise or sunset. Armed forces of Israel concept

After Jesus Statue Is Vandalized, Israel Takes Swift Action

Christianity

Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

Religion

Statues

As reports of a rapprochement between the governments of Israel and Lebanon have surfaced, it would be instructive to review how the terrorist organizations of the PLO and later, Hezbollah, have wrecked what was once a beautiful, thriving region of the Middle East.
The history of Lebanon’s destabilization is defined by the erosion of state sovereignty, first by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and later by Hezbollah. Both organizations established &#8220;states within a state,&#8221; effectively dismantling the central government’s monopoly on violence and turning Lebanon into a launchpad for perpetual conflict with Israel.
The destabilization began in earnest following the 1969 Cairo Accord, which permitted PLO terrorists to operate from southern Lebanon. After being expelled from Jordan during Black September (1970), the PLO relocated its headquarters to Lebanon, transforming the south into &#8220;Fatahland.&#8221;
From this base, the PLO launched a relentless campaign of attacks against Israeli civilians, which provoked devastating retaliations on Lebanese soil:
<ul>
<li>International Terror: Following the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre of Israelis by PLO terrorists, Israel occupied parts of southern Lebanon for 36 hours to strike PLO bases.</li>
<li>Targeting Schools and Hotels: In 1974, PLO-affiliated terrorists seized a school in Maalot, resulting in the deaths of 25 hostages, including 22 children. In 1975, PLO commandos launched the Savoy Hotel attack in Tel Aviv.</li>
<li>The Coastal Road Massacre: In 1978, a PLO hijacking of a bus on Israel&#8217;s coastal road left 38 civilians dead, prompting the first major Israeli invasion of Lebanon.</li>
</ul>
These operations effectively broke the Lebanese state&#8217;s control over its borders. The PLO’s military strength deepened sectarian divides, aligning with Lebanese Muslims against Christian militias, sparking the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). The conflict killed approximately 150,000 people. Eventually, the 1982 Israeli war, launched after the PLO fired waves of Katyusha rockets into northern Galilee, forced Yasser Arafat to evacuate to Tunisia, leaving Lebanon in ruins.
In the power vacuum of the 1980s, Hezbollah emerged with Iranian backing. Like the PLO, Hezbollah seized territory in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. By 2023, Hezbollah’s military capabilities had eclipsed the Lebanese Army, maintaining an arsenal of over 150,000 rockets.
Hezbollah’s impact has been both military and systemic:
<ul>
<li>Political Stranglehold: Hezbollah effectively vetoes state decisions that conflict with Iranian interests through armed resistance, despite losing its majority in the Lebanese government in 2022.</li>
<li>Financial Corruption: The group’s &#8220;System&#8221; of global money laundering and illicit trade has compromised the Lebanese banking sector. Investigations such as Bartlett v. Société Générale de Banque au Liban allege that major banks bankrolled Hezbollah operations, leading to international isolation.</li>
<li>Economic Collapse: Lebanon’s economy devolved into a $100 billion Ponzi scheme. When Hezbollah’s dominance triggered tensions with Gulf Arab states, tourism and remittances evaporated, causing the system to implode.</li>
</ul>
The legacy of the PLO and Hezbollah is a nation in &#8220;acute financial distress.&#8221; Lebanon&#8217;s financial collapse is considered one of the most severe economic depressions globally since the mid-nineteenth century. It wasn&#8217;t a single event but a systemic implosion of a &#8220;Ponzi-like&#8221; financial model that had sustained the country for decades. The collapse &#8220;officially&#8221; detonated in October 2019, but the fuse had been burning for years.
Warning signs started in 2016; foreign capital inflows began to dry up. To keep the Lebanese Pound pegged to the dollar, the Central Bank (BDL) launched &#8220;financial engineering&#8221;—essentially offering massive interest rates (up to 15–20%) to local banks to attract dollars, which were then used to pay off old debts.
The Breaking Point came in October 2019, when a proposed tax on WhatsApp calls sparked mass protests (the &#8220;October Revolution&#8221;). This caused a crisis of confidence; banks closed for two weeks and, upon reopening, unofficially locked depositors out of their dollar accounts. In March 2020, for the first time in its history, Lebanon defaulted on a $1.2 billion Eurobond repayment, signaling it could no longer service its approximately $90 billion national debt.
The Lebanese Pound (LBP), which was pegged at 1,507 to $1 for over 20 years, lost over 98% of its value. By early 2026, the economy will have become almost entirely &#8220;dollarized,&#8221; meaning prices will be set in USD because the local currency is too volatile to use for basic trade.

LEBANON-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-ISRAEL-REFUGEES

Architecture Of The Collapse: How The PLO, Hezbollah Dismantled The Lebanese State

President Donald J. Trump dropping a late-night update that could mark a major shift in one of the most volatile regions in the world: Talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to happen Thursday.
“Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon,” Trump posted. “It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!”
Thirty-four years.
That’s how long it’s been since direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, a country that has, for decades, effectively been a launching pad for Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terror group that has repeatedly attacked Israel from southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah isn’t just some fringe militia. It’s an extension of Iran’s terror network, armed, funded, and directed to keep pressure on Israel while Tehran pulls the strings from afar. That dynamic has turned Lebanon into a frontline in Iran’s broader war against the Jewish state for years.
And now, Trump is stepping in to force something that hasn’t happened in over three decades: direct engagement.
This comes after Israel hammered Hezbollah positions following the launch of the United States’ Operation Epic Fury, including strikes that reached deep into Beirut, while tensions tied to the broader Iran conflict continue to simmer.
Behind the scenes, United States, Israeli, and Lebanese officials have already begun laying the groundwork. But Trump’s message makes one thing clear: this isn’t just another quiet diplomatic effort, it’s a push to reset a long-frozen conflict.
The big question now? What exactly happens when a government tied to Hezbollah sits down across from Israel for the first time in a generation?
Because if this actually materializes, it’s not just “breathing room.”
It’s a crack in a decades-old standoff that’s been fueled by Iran, and watched by the world.

Trump_L_I

Trump Signals 34-Year First As Longtime Enemies Prepare To Sit Down

Operation Epic Fury

President Trump

A popular social media news page in Dearborn, Michigan, sparked outrage for a post on Thursday that focused on the Michigan synagogue attacker&#8217;s recent &#8220;family tragedy&#8221; just hours after the man rammed his vehicle into the largest Jewish Reform synagogue in the United States and opened fire with a rifle.
TCD Dearborn News, which has over half a million followers on Instagram and 150,000 followers on Facebook, wrote that synagogue attacker Ayman Ghazali &#8220;recently experienced a family tragedy overseas&#8221; when two of his brothers and some of his nephews were killed in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon. The news page also described the attack as an &#8220;incident&#8221; and wrote that &#8220;the suspect died following reports of an active shooter at the synagogue.&#8221;
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVzJcKJjuJn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVzJcKJjuJn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by TCD News (@dearborn)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
The Dearborn news page was blasted on social media for its framing of the story.
&#8220;Trying to justify terrorists living in your city 👎,&#8221; one Instagram user wrote on TCD Dearborn News&#8217; post.
&#8220;Love how this headline can&#8217;t even say what the &#8216;incident&#8217; was. Absolutely pathetic,&#8221; another person added.
Jesse Arm, vice president of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute, <a href="https://x.com/Jesse_Leg/status/2032229722604589370">wrote</a>, &#8220;Isn’t it interesting how we’re constantly told that hating Jews and hating the Jewish state are two entirely separate, disconnected things—yet when a Lebanese immigrant from Dearborn attempts a mass-casualty terrorist attack at a Jewish preschool in West Bloomfield, the fact that his family was impacted by a conflict started by a terrorist organization against Israel on the other side of the globe suddenly becomes relevant context[?]&#8221;
The Daily Wire reached out to TCD Dearborn News for comment.
Ghazali was killed by security personnel after ramming his vehicle, which was reportedly full of explosives, into Temple Israel. One security guard sustained injuries after being struck by the attacker&#8217;s vehicle. No one else in the synagogue, which also houses a preschool, was hurt, and the wounded security guard is expected to recover.
Ghazali was a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-synagogue-terrorist-ended-up-a-u-s-citizen-goes-back-to-obama-era?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=How+Synagogue+Terrorist+Ended+Up+A+U.S.+Citizen+Goes+Back+To+Obama+Era">Lebanese national</a> who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2016 under the Obama administration, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to The Daily Wire. He was born in Lebanon in 1985 and entered the United States in 2011 on an immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen. Ghazali&#8217;s wife filed for divorce in August 2024, and the divorce was finalized in March 2025, The Detroit News <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2026/03/12/temple-israel-synagogue-suspect-identified-as-dearborn-heights-man/89126461007/">reported</a>.
Ghazali lived and worked in Dearborn Heights, according to multiple local reports. The Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area has one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States. Dearborn Heights is 20 miles south of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, an area that holds the largest Jewish population in Michigan.
The FBI said on Thursday night that it is leading the investigation into the attack, calling it a &#8220;targeted attack on the Jewish community.&#8221; Law enforcement officials did not say whether they had a lead on a potential motivation behind the attack. Armed FBI agents were seen executing a search warrant at the house believed to belong to Ghazali late Thursday night, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/armed-fbi-agents-carry-out-search-warrant-believed-connection-synagogue-attacker">reported</a>.
Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun commented on the attack on the Jewish synagogue and also mentioned that &#8220;earlier this month, [Ghazali] lost several members of his own family, including his niece and nephew, in an Israeli attack on their home in Lebanon,&#8221; according to The Detroit News. Baydoun condemned the attack on &#8220;a house of worship,&#8221; saying, &#8220;Everyone deserves to worship in peace.&#8221;
&#8220;This tragedy comes at a time when communities everywhere are confronting rising hate and senseless violence,&#8221; the mayor added. &#8220;No matter where violence occurs, whether in West Bloomfield or anywhere around in the world, harm against innocent people is something we must all stand firmly against. The tensions we see across the world too often find their way into our own neighborhoods, reminding us how deeply connected our shared safety is.&#8221;

US-SHOOTING-SYNAGOGUE-MICHIGAN

Dearborn Media Outlet Pivots To Synagogue Attacker’s Recent ‘Family Tragedy’

Dearborn News Page Focuses On Recent 'Family Tragedy' Of Synagogue Attacker

Jews

Michigan

Muslims

Pope Leo XIV expressed “profound sorrow” this week after a Maronite Catholic priest was killed in southern Lebanon during an Israeli strike, as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate along the border.
The priest, Fr. Pierre al-Rahi, was killed March 9 in the village of Qlayaa near the Israeli border after rushing to help parishioners wounded in an earlier attack, <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-03/pope-leo-xiv-mourns-victims-father-elrahi-middle-east-war.html">according to Catholic officials</a>.
In a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff said he was grieving the victims of recent violence across the region.
“Pope Leo XIV expresses his profound sorrow for all the victims of the bombings in the Middle East these past few days, for the many innocent people, including numerous children, and for those who were helping them, such as Father Pierre El-Rahi, a Maronite priest killed this afternoon in Qlayaa,” the Vatican said. The statement added that the pope is “following the events with concern and prays for a swift end to all hostilities.”
Al-Rahi, a parish priest serving the Maronite Catholic community in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon, was reportedly assisting wounded villagers when the fatal strike occurred.
According to accounts from Catholic sources in the region, an Israeli tank shell first struck a house in the village, injuring residents. Al-Rahi and several neighbors rushed to help those wounded in the attack when the location was struck again.
The priest was seriously wounded and later died in a nearby hospital.
L&#8217;Œuvre d&#8217;Orient, a French Catholic organization for Eastern Christians, confirmed the priest’s death and condemned the violence in a <a href="https://x.com/OeuvredOrient/status/2031050689896739153">statement</a>. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need said al-Rahi had been ministering to distressed parishioners when the strike occurred. “Very disturbing reports that a parish priest in southern Lebanon has been killed in an Israeli strike,” the organization said in a <a href="https://x.com/ireland_acn/status/2031040965520036098">statement</a>, asking the faithful to pray for the slain priest and for peace in the region.
Al-Rahi, who was 50 years old, had reportedly refused earlier calls to evacuate the village despite the growing conflict in southern Lebanon. “We are forced to stay despite the danger, when we defend our land, and we do so peacefully,” the priest said in an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVq6tf0DN19/">interview</a> just one day before his death. “None of us carries weapons. All of us carry peace and goodness and love.”
The killing comes as Israel has intensified its military campaign against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, southern Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley in an effort to dismantle the Iran-backed militant group’s military infrastructure.
Hezbollah fighters have frequently operated from populated areas, including villages in southern Lebanon, leading to increasing danger for civilians caught in the crossfire. The violence has tragically fueled a growing humanitarian crisis. Tens of thousands of civilians have fled their homes in southern Lebanon, joining hundreds of thousands of displaced people seeking shelter elsewhere in the country.
Al-Rahi was widely regarded as a respected figure among local Christians for his dedication to the people of his parish and his decision to remain with them during the fighting. The pope’s statement concluded with a prayer for peace, reiterating the Vatican’s call for an end to the violence that has devastated communities across the Middle East in recent days.

LEBANON-KFAR KILA-ISRAEL-BORDER-TENSION

Maronite Catholic Priest Confirmed Killed In Southern Lebanon

Catholic

Pope Leo

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control took decisive action on Thursday against individuals channeling tens of millions of dollars from Iran to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group that dominates Lebanon and threatens Israel.
The sanctions, issued under Executive Order 13224, targeted Hezbollah operatives such as Ossama Jaber, Ja’far Muhammad Qasir, and Samer Kasbar — key players in the terrorist organization’s sprawling financial network. Using Lebanon’s cash-based economy and unscreened exchange houses, they laundered more than a billion dollars since January 2025, funding terror operations, weapons smuggling, and Hezbollah’s entrenched control over Lebanese politics.
The Trump administration framed these sanctions as part of a clear policy: choking off Hezbollah’s financial oxygen to isolate Iran and protect American allies. Treasury Under Secretary John Hurley declared that Lebanon could only achieve freedom and stability by severing its ties to Tehran’s terror machine, <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0308">saying,</a> “Lebanon has an opportunity to be free, prosperous, and secure—but that can only happen if Hezbollah is fully disarmed and cut off from Iran’s funding and control. We will work with our Lebanese partners to create a resilient economy that puts the interests of all Lebanese citizens front and center.” This action followed a consistent Trump doctrine — one that identifies Hezbollah as an Iranian tentacle and treats its dismantlement as central to peace in the region.
This focus on direct enforcement and partnership contrasts starkly with the Biden-Harris administration’s record of strategic leaks and policy hesitation that undermined Israel’s sovereignty and security. During Biden’s tenure, Washington repeatedly betrayed Jerusalem’s trust by divulging sensitive Israeli operations to the press. In September 2024, as Israel prepared a limited ground invasion of Lebanon to neutralize Hezbollah along its northern border, Biden officials <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-said-to-inform-us-of-plans-for-imminent-limited-ground-op-in-lebanon/">leaked the plans</a> to The Washington Post, handing Hezbollah critical information and prompting public backlash. That act mirrored earlier episodes — such as exposing Israeli strikes on Iranian interests in 2021 and revealing covert cooperation with allies during the Obama-Biden years — each leak serving to cripple Israeli initiatives while shielding Iran from reprisals.
For years, Democratic administrations under Biden and Obama displayed the same pattern: rhetorical support for Israel paired with behind-the-scenes meddling. The Biden team joined United Nations efforts to shield UNRWA employees who aided Hamas, delayed the congressional notification of weapons transfers to Israel, and warned the Israel Defense Forces not to take Rafah, Hamas’s last bastion.
These actions echoed Barack Obama’s tenure, when U.S. <a href="https://www.frontpagemag.com/obamas-leaks-sabotaging-israels-defense-joseph-klein/">leaks</a> sabotaged Israel’s counter-Iran strategy.
By sanctioning Hezbollah’s financiers and tightening the noose on Iran’s proxies, the Trump administration demonstrates that America’s words are backed by action, not whispers to the press. While the Biden-Harris team played politics with leaks that endangered an ally, Trump draws a bright line: the enemies of Israel and the enemies of freedom are one and the same — and both will be confronted without apology.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Trump Admin Cracks Down On Hezbollah’s Money Men

Department of the Treasury

Terrorism

In October, journalists from leading mainstream media outlets embedded with the Israeli Defense Forces on tours in Lebanon. But when Hezbollah threatened legal action against the journalists, they all abandoned ship — and a month later, none have returned.
The IDF organized the tours on September 30, October 11, and October 13 to expose Hezbollah’s vast terror infrastructure. Reporters were given a firsthand look at tunnels and weapons caches hidden in villages, and other Hezbollah resources Israel faces as it attempts to dismantle the terrorist group.
Among the outlets represented during the 90 to 120-minute visits were the BBC, CNN, Fox News, the Associated Press, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and Reuters.
On October 12, BBC reporter Lucy Williamson <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80r9zyk89yo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published a report</a> titled, “Inside Israel’s combat zone in southern Lebanon” about what she witnessed. In response, on October 14, Hezbollah condemned the BBC, accusing it of violating Lebanon’s sovereignty and calling for legal action against the outlet and its staff in Lebanon.
“Not only did the BBC, across all its platforms and languages, display blatant bias towards the killers and criminals, justifying the Zionist barbarism against the Palestinian and Lebanese people, but it also shamelessly sent a team of journalists who entered one of the southern villages accompanied by the occupying army, violating Lebanese territory, sovereignty, and laws, as shown in the reports published by the organization,” Hezbollah wrote.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1732721476761000&amp;usg=AOvVaw10gxR6_GhlVzwV3KUPANRJ">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE</a>
“Hezbollah’s Media Relations Office denounces this unjustifiable and unacceptable move as it calls on the Ministry of Information, the National Media Council, and relevant judicial and security authorities to take legal action against the BBC and its teams operating in Lebanon,” the statement added.
A subsequent statement <a href="https://daraj.media/en/journalists-accompanying-israeli-occupation-forces-in-southern-lebanon-where-do-ethical-and-professional-boundaries-lie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly expanded</a> the condemnation to all outlets that participated.
An Israeli government official granted anonymity told The Daily Wire that several reporters said they could no longer participate in the tours for fear of the safety of their colleagues working in Lebanon. Not a single mainstream outlet has accepted an invitation to embed since Hezbollah issued its letter, but many are requesting access to travel to Gaza with the IDF, according to the source.
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter__right" role="presentation" data-qa="message_content">
<div class="c-message_kit__blocks c-message_kit__blocks--rich_text">
<div class="c-message__message_blocks c-message__message_blocks--rich_text" data-qa="message-text">
<div class="p-block_kit_renderer" data-qa="block-kit-renderer">
<div class="p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper--first">
<div class="p-rich_text_block" dir="auto">
<div class="p-rich_text_section">The absence of mainstream media journalists has frustrated Israeli officials, who aim to highlight that Hezbollah has used Lebanese civilian areas to attack Israeli civilians since the terror group began launching near-daily rockets at Israel on October 7, 2023.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Following the BBC report, seven BBC Arabic employees suspended their work in protest over their colleague’s participation in the tour, <a href="https://english.almanar.com.lb/2231946" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hezbollah-run outlet Al-Manar</a> reported.
The employees, Sanaa al-Khoury, Mohammad Hamdar, Marie-Josee Azzi, and Joy Slim, and three others from the BBC Extra team, reportedly refused to return to work unless the BBC issued an apology or disciplined their colleagues who were embedded with the IDF. The BBC has not issued a formal apology or stated that they disciplined the team that entered Lebanon through Israel.
The Media Secretariat of the Lebanese Popular Conference urged the Lebanese government “to halt the operations of the BBC team in Lebanon due to its cooperation with the Zionist enemy forces and its violation of Lebanese laws and national sovereignty,” <a href="https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/10/16/735377/bbc-fox-news-line-fire-embedding-journalists-south-lebanon-israeli-army" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the Iranian regime-run outlet, PressTV.
&#8220;Reuters appreciates the concerns expressed by Lebanon’s Ministry of Information,&#8221; a Reuters spokesperson told the Daily Wire. &#8220;We are committed to covering the conflict between Israel and Lebanon in an independent, unbiased and reliable way in keeping with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles, as we do around the world.&#8221;
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter">
<div class="c-message_kit__gutter__right" role="presentation" data-qa="message_content">
<div class="c-message_kit__blocks c-message_kit__blocks--rich_text">
<div class="c-message__message_blocks c-message__message_blocks--rich_text" data-qa="message-text">
<div class="p-block_kit_renderer" data-qa="block-kit-renderer">
<div class="p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper p-block_kit_renderer__block_wrapper--first">
<div class="p-rich_text_block" dir="auto">
<div class="p-rich_text_section">This piece has been updated to include a comment from Reuters.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Israeli Forces Highlight Alleged Hamas Infrastructure In Northern Gaza

How Hezbollah Scared Journalists Out Of Embedding With The IDF In Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces declassified information on Monday giving up a location where the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization is allegedly storing $500 million in cash and gold.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a video that the money was being stored in a secret bunker that belonged to the group&#8217;s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
The IDF had no plans of hitting the bunker, which is located under the al-Sahel hospital, he said.
&#8220;The bunker was deliberately placed under a hospital, and it holds more than half a billion dollars in cash and gold,&#8221; Hagari said. &#8220;That money could have been used to rehabilitate Lebanon, but it went to rehabilitate Hezbollah.&#8221;
He said that Hezbollah&#8217;s financial network relies on getting direct payments from Iran and factories that it has built in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Turkey.
Hezbollah also relies on <a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10703">criminal activity</a> around the world, including hubs in Africa and Latin America.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1729077615157000&amp;usg=AOvVaw17Kprl74oE9DYOLREdiBPU">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ COMING TO DAILYWIRE+ OCT. 28</a>
A 2022 Europol <a href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/Tesat_Report_2022_0.pdf">report</a> stated, “The network of collaborators built by Hezbollah in the EU is suspected of managing the transportation and distribution of illegal drugs into the EU, dealing with firearms trafficking and running professional money laundering operations.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
“Tonight, I am going to declassify intelligence on a site that we did not strike—where Hezbollah has millions of dollars in gold and cash—in Hassan Nasrallah’s bunker. Where is the bunker located? Directly under Al-Sahel Hospital in the heart of Beirut.”
Listen to IDF Spox.… <a href="https://t.co/SjMZQpKqoJ">pic.twitter.com/SjMZQpKqoJ</a>
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1848436265143677104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
Hezbollah propagandists working in the media went to the hospital and claimed that there was no money there as they showed images of hospital beds and other medical equipment.
IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani released a statement on Tuesday providing instructions to the journalists on how to get to the bunker.
&#8220;One of the entrances to the bunker, containing more than half a billion dollars in gold and dollars, is on the eastern side of the basement of the Al-Ahmedi building, located south of the Al-Sahel hospital,&#8221; he posted on X. &#8220;The basement is on the second floor down (level -2).&#8221;
&#8220;It is important to note that it is possible the entrance is hidden by various means in order to make it difficult to find,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/fdgdVXeYcj">pic.twitter.com/fdgdVXeYcj</a>
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) <a href="https://twitter.com/LTC_Shoshani/status/1848725453516767671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2024</a></blockquote>

A Kashmiri Shia Muslim man waves a Hezbollah flag during a

IDF Gives Up Location Where Hezbollah Is Hiding More Than $500M

Menu