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Israel Confirms Lebanon’s Approval of its Share in Karish Gas Field

London-based Energean’s drill ship begins drilling at the Karish natural gas field offshore Israel in the east Mediterranean May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Ari Rabinovitch
London-based Energean’s drill ship begins drilling at the Karish natural gas field offshore Israel in the east Mediterranean May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Ari Rabinovitch
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Israel Confirms Lebanon’s Approval of its Share in Karish Gas Field

London-based Energean’s drill ship begins drilling at the Karish natural gas field offshore Israel in the east Mediterranean May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Ari Rabinovitch
London-based Energean’s drill ship begins drilling at the Karish natural gas field offshore Israel in the east Mediterranean May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Ari Rabinovitch

An agreement put forward by US mediator Amos Hochstein stipulated that Lebanon gain control over the Qana field in exchange for granting Israel full rights in the Karish oil field, well-informed sources in Tel Aviv said.

The sources noted that most politicians in Lebanon have voiced support for this agreement, except for the Shiite duo Hezbollah and Amal.

The draft agreement reached by Hochstein stated that the dispute was limited to an area of 860 square kilometers, not 2,350 km as previously claimed by Lebanon.

Tel Aviv, however, is asking for guarantees that the Shiite duo would abide by the Lebanese official position and that it would refrain from threatening the Israeli wells.

These Israeli fears emerged after Hezbollah launched three drones towards the Israeli Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Saturday.

Another drone was launched towards the Israeli EEZ earlier last week, before being shot down by an Israeli aircraft near the border with Lebanon.

In an attempt to persuade Israel to respond positively to the agreement with Lebanon, Hochstein is set to visit Israel next week, as part of the delegation accompanying President Joe Biden to the region. He will meet with Energy Minister Karine Elharrar and other officials in Tel Aviv to finalize the agreement.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN 11) quoted a high-ranking Israeli official as pointing to the “possibility of achieving great progress in the file of demarcating the maritime border with Lebanon during Hochstein’s expected visit,” noting that the American mediator will convey to Israel the Lebanese stance.

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Arab World

Jordan Says it Shot Down Iranian Missiles

The Jordanian capital, Amman. Petra file photo
The Jordanian capital, Amman. Petra file photo
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Jordan Says it Shot Down Iranian Missiles

The Jordanian capital, Amman. Petra file photo
The Jordanian capital, Amman. Petra file photo

Jordan’s military said Thursday it shot down eight missiles launched by Iran targeting the kingdom.

The military made the announcement via the kingdom’s state-run Petra news agency.

The United States has intensified its strikes targeting Iran, hitting targets further north. American forces also fired into a ship it accused of trying to break its naval blockade on Iran.

Tehran retaliated early Thursday with missile and drone fire also targeting Bahrain and Kuwait before dawn.

Arab World

Morocco Signs Agreement to Join Gaza International Force

Palestinians gather around a blacksmith shop in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood after it was hit by an Israeli military strike on Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP)
Palestinians gather around a blacksmith shop in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood after it was hit by an Israeli military strike on Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP)
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Morocco Signs Agreement to Join Gaza International Force

Palestinians gather around a blacksmith shop in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood after it was hit by an Israeli military strike on Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP)
Palestinians gather around a blacksmith shop in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood after it was hit by an Israeli military strike on Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP)

Morocco signed an agreement on Wednesday to participate in the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, state media reported.

The agreement was signed in Rabat at a meeting attended by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, senior defense officials ‌and Nickolay ‌Mladenov, the Board ‌of Peace ⁠envoy for Gaza, along ⁠with a delegation including the commander of the ISF, the state news agency MAP said.

The agreement "reflects the shared determination to contribute, through ⁠concrete humanitarian and security ‌actions, to the ‌establishment of a climate of ‌peace and security in the region," ‌MAP quoted a statement from the Moroccan defense administration as saying.

The Gaza Peace Council and ISF ‌leadership welcomed Morocco's decision to join the initiative, citing ⁠its ⁠planned deployment of senior military officers, gendarmerie and police personnel, as well as the creation of a military field hospital, MAP said.

Arab World

Could Hezbollah Launch a New War in Support of Iran?

Supporters of Hezbollah carry Iranian and Hezbollah flags during a memorial ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, 08 July 2026. (EPA)
Supporters of Hezbollah carry Iranian and Hezbollah flags during a memorial ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, 08 July 2026. (EPA)
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Could Hezbollah Launch a New War in Support of Iran?

Supporters of Hezbollah carry Iranian and Hezbollah flags during a memorial ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, 08 July 2026. (EPA)
Supporters of Hezbollah carry Iranian and Hezbollah flags during a memorial ceremony for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, 08 July 2026. (EPA)

Amid deteriorating regional conditions and faltering US-Iranian understandings, Lebanese people fear that Hezbollah may once again launch a new round of war in support of Iran. This follows the party’s previous interventions, including its 2023 campaign backing Gaza and its retaliation for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in March this year.

Lebanon has witnessed a drop in Israeli military operations, which have reached their lowest levels in weeks, despite Israel's continued occupation of a security zone extending up to ten kilometers deep inside Lebanese territory. Hezbollah has also halted all military operations since the ceasefire was announced in mid-June.

However, the resumption of attacks between the US and Iran leads observers to believe that Tehran could once again request its regional proxies, including Hezbollah, to reignite all fronts in its support, should it perceive that the situation is heading toward a major escalation against it.

These fears are compounded by past statements by Hezbollah lawmakers and leaders. Most recently, MP Ali Ammar pledged to stand behind Iran in the event of a new war.

Conversely, during his latest appearance, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem insisted on maintaining the diplomatic track between the US and Iran, while fiercely attacking the path of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

Political analyst Qassem Qassir, who is close to Hezbollah's positioning, noted that “no one can definitively determine the red lines drawn by Hezbollah, which, if crossed, would prompt a return to resistance in its broadest sense.”

“However, it is expected that a broad Israeli assault on the Ali al-Taher hill would naturally compel the group to defend it,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The same applies if attacks target other Lebanese areas still outside direct Israeli control, or if the enemy resumes wide-scale offensives and attacks against Nabatieh, Tyre, the southern suburbs of Beirut or other regions,” he added.

“Ultimately, the decision rests with Hezbollah's leadership, which has confirmed through its Secretary-General that it will not accept a return to the status quo prior to March 2” when the war with Israel erupted, he said.

“Consequently, matters remain contingent upon favorable conditions on the ground as well as the political climate. For instance, should direct Lebanese-Israeli negotiations hit a dead end, it could prompt the resistance [Hezbollah] to resume direct military operations,” he remarked.

Security and defense analyst Dr. Riad Kahwaji said: “The red lines that could prompt Hezbollah to resume fighting are determined by Iran, not the party's own leadership.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he added: “Tehran alone decides when the party will reopen the support front.”