Lebanese Army Launches 4th Phase of Palestinian Camps Disarmamenthttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5185701-lebanese-army-launches-4th-phase-palestinian-camps-disarmament
Lebanese Army Launches 4th Phase of Palestinian Camps Disarmament
Lebanese army soldiers are seen deployed at the entrace to Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Lebanese army on Saturday began implementing the fourth phase of its plan to disarm Palestinian camps, starting with Beddawi in northern Lebanon. The operation is set to last for three days, after which the military will move to Ain al-Hilweh camp in the south.
The Lebanese authorities and the Palestinian Fatah movement have already completed three phases of the plan. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) factions were involved in the process, while Hamas has so far not shown any cooperation.
Ambassador Ramez Dimechkie, head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, said the decision is “clear and firm in asserting the authority of the state over all Lebanese territories. The camps are not outside this framework.”
He added that dialogue with Hamas regarding the details of the handover mechanisms is ongoing.
Dimechkie explained that the committee expects the disarmament file to be closed completely by the end of this month, in a crucial step toward enhancing security and stability.
From Burj al-Barajneh to the North
The operation, overseen by the army and the relevant committee, officially began in August, starting in Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
It then extended to the Rashidieh, Al-Bass, and Burj al-Shamali camps in Tyre, located south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. The operation then returned to Burj al-Barajneh again.
This plan is a direct result of an agreement between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on May 21, regarding the process to limit weapons possession to the state.
According to the government's plan, the operation is being conducted in three phases, beginning in Beirut, passing through Tyre’s camps, and finally reaching Beddawi and Ain al-Hilweh in the north and south, respectively. Ain al-Hilweh is seen as the most sensitive part of the operation due to the camp’s size and its complex security environment.
Ain al-Hilweh: The Hardest Test
In recent years, the camp, which lies near Sidon, has witnessed bloody clashes between armed factions. According to analysts, the success of the state in collecting weapons from Ain al-Hilweh would be a decisive indicator of its ability to impose its sovereignty.
As for Beddawi camp in northern Lebanon, it is seen as less tense, but remains an integral part of the government's comprehensive plan to collect weapons from all camps.
Lebanon hosts Palestinian refugees in 12 main camps. Both Lebanese and Palestinian communities hope that the completion of the disarmament process will strengthen state authority and create a more stable environment, paving the way for a comprehensive approach to civil rights for refugees.
US Forces Killed ISIS Leader in Syria Airstrike, Central Command Sayshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5288022-us-forces-killed-isis-leader-syria-airstrike-central-command-says
A still from a video released by US Central Command on Friday showing US Air Force F-16 fighter jets refueling mid-air during a patrol mission over the Middle East (CENTCOM)
US Forces Killed ISIS Leader in Syria Airstrike, Central Command Says
A still from a video released by US Central Command on Friday showing US Air Force F-16 fighter jets refueling mid-air during a patrol mission over the Middle East (CENTCOM)
The US military conducted an airstrike in northwestern Syria last week that killed a senior ISIS leader, US Central Command said on Wednesday.
The strike, carried out on Friday, was part "of ongoing US efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the US homeland" and killed Ali Husayn al-Ulaywi, it said in a statement on X.
ISIS has declared a new phase of operations in Syria against the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, carrying out a spate of attacks since February. Last year, Sharaa's government joined the US-led coalition fighting ISIS.
On Saturday, the militant group claimed responsibility for an attack near the city of Manbij in Syria's northeastern Aleppo province.
ISIS controlled around a quarter or more of Syria at the peak of its power during the Syrian civil war a decade ago, before being driven out of the territory by a US-led coalition and other foes.
Barrack Pushes Baghdad and Erbil Toward Oil Dispute Settlementhttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5288002-barrack-pushes-baghdad-and-erbil-toward-oil-dispute-settlement
Barrack Pushes Baghdad and Erbil Toward Oil Dispute Settlement
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani receives US envoy Tom Barrack in Erbil on June 16, 2026 (Government Media)
Kurdish politicians say US envoy Tom Barrack discussed possible ways to resolve the long-running oil dispute with Baghdad during his visit to Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, last week. However, they ruled out the possibility that the country's severe financial crisis would lead to the passage of a permanent federal law regulating natural resources.
Since March 2007, when the federal government led by Nouri al-Maliki submitted the first draft of the legislation, successive parliamentary terms have failed to pass a law that was intended to define how natural resources are produced and revenues distributed. Instead, political forces have relied on fragile political understandings to manage the issue.
Discussion over the law resurfaced following Barrack's visit to Erbil on June 16, 2026, during which he held meetings with regional government officials and leaders of the two main Kurdish parties. Local platforms circulated reports suggesting that the US envoy was "optimistic about Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi's ability to resolve the traditional disputes with Erbil."
Former Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament Majid Shankali told Asharq Al-Awsat that Barrack discussed strengthening US-Iraqi cooperation in the energy sector, both with Baghdad and Erbil, as well as modernizing the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, through which Iraqi oil is transported to Syria and onward to the Mediterranean
Former lawmaker Mayada Al-Najjar said the oil dispute between Baghdad and Erbil has moved "from a stage of stagnation to one of serious negotiations."
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Najjar said that "communications between Baghdad and Erbil have gained clear momentum in recent weeks, with exchanges of visits and meetings among senior officials focused on resuming oil exports, settling financial issues, and preparing the ground for the passage of an oil and gas law."
What Is the Root of the Dispute?
Observers tend to believe that political disagreements have always been the primary obstacle to passing the law. At the same time, disputes over the interpretation of constitutional provisions, including the powers of the Kurdistan Region, have remained unresolved in most political settlements.
The dispute continues over whether the Kurdistan Region has the right to contract directly with foreign companies and pursue independent oil projects, or whether the federal government is the sole authority empowered to do so under the constitution and existing laws. Sharp differences also persist regarding discovered oil fields and the nature of contracts signed, whether under service agreements or production-sharing arrangements.
The Kurdistan Region attempted to address the legal vacuumwhen its parliament passed a regional oil and gas law in August 2007. However, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court effectively nullified the legislation when it issued a ruling in February 2022 challenging its legal basis.
"There is no hope in the foreseeable future of passing an oil and gas law," Shankali said, citing "Baghdad's strong tendency to consolidate full centralized control over the region's oil resources."
Shankali, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi "will not be able to pass an oil and gas law through the Iraqi parliament without an agreement among the political blocs represented in parliament." He expressed regret that "the current parliament has yet to reach a formula acceptable to Erbil, Baghdad, and the oil-producing provinces that would allow the law to be passed and finally end disputes that have persisted for more than 20 years."
He predicted that political forces would continue "managing the crisis, as before, through temporary agreements between the federal government and the regional government." That would mean maintaining the latest arrangement that led to the adoption of the three-year federal budget law during the government of Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
In June 2023, political forces in Baghdad, led by the Coordination Framework and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, agreed on a financial settlement under which the Kurdistan Region would deliver 250,000 barrels of oil per day after deducting the region's share for domestic consumption. The agreement also allowed Kirkuk crude to be transported through the Kurdistan pipeline to Türkiye's Ceyhan port, in exchange for the federal government's commitment to pay the region's share of the state budget.
"In the coming phase, this agreement could be further developed between Baghdad and Erbil, given all sides' desire to confront the severe financial crisis," Shankali said.
Masoud Barzani, with Mazloum Abdi beside him, during talks with US envoy Tom Barrack in Erbil (File photo: Kurdistan Democratic Party)
Positive Signs
Sobhi Al-Mandalawi, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, pointed to what he described as "positive indicators" since Al-Zaidi assumed office as prime minister.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Mandalawi said that "the new Iraqi government moved early in its tenure to engage positively with the national and domestic environment, including contentious issues such as relations with Erbil." He added that "the Kurdistan Regional Government, led by Masrour Barzani, views these indicators positively."
However, Al-Mandalawi suggested that efforts to resolve disputes between the two governments may gather momentum under pressure from the international community, particularly the United States.
He stressed that the Kurdistan Democratic Party has consistently partnered with every new government in Baghdad in seeking the passage of an oil and gas law. Although he hopes the legislation can be approved during the current parliamentary term, he argued that "the same political forces that opposed a legislative settlement in the past will continue to use every means available to prevent the law from being passed."
Former lawmaker Mayada Al-Najjar said there are "encouraging signs" that the disputes could be resolved, reflected in growing cooperation between the two sides in both security and economic coordination.
In mid-June 2026, an Iraqi military delegation headed by Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah conducted meetings and field visits in Erbil, including inspections of several oil fields, to assess security conditions and discuss measures aimed at protecting facilities and personnel.
Despite political indicators suggesting Baghdad and Erbil are moving closer to resolving the oil dispute, Al-Najjar said any definitive progress should be measured by an official announcement of a final or comprehensive agreement between Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani and Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi that would fully settle the oil and gas crisis.
Iran’s Top Diplomat Speaks with Hamashttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5287894-iran%E2%80%99s-top-diplomat-speaks-hamas
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives for a bilateral meeting with Switzerland's counterpart at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21, 2026, ahead of high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict. (AFP)
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Iran’s Top Diplomat Speaks with Hamas
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives for a bilateral meeting with Switzerland's counterpart at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21, 2026, ahead of high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict. (AFP)
Iran's top diplomat spoke with a senior official from the Palestinian group Hamas regarding talks between Iran and the United States, state television reported on Wednesday.
Abbas Araghchi discussed the "latest developments" in the region with Basem Naeem, a member of Hamas's political bureau, Iranian television said.
The call follows the signing last week of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States aimed at bringing a lasting end to hostilities in the Middle East.
The text does not mention Gaza but stipulates "an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon".
Hamas has welcomed the agreement and expressed hope that it would also help end the violence in the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by over two years of war with Israel.
Iran is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, making it a cornerstone of its foreign policy since the 1979 revolution.
During the call, Araghchi "reaffirmed Iran's continued support for Palestinians and their just cause until their legitimate national rights are fully realized", according to a transcript reported by Iranian television.
On Tuesday, the Iranian foreign minister accompanied President Masoud Pezeshkian on a visit to neighboring Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator in the talks between Tehran and Washington.
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