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Lebanon Reaffirms Negotiations as Path to Resolve Dispute with Israel

President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
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Lebanon Reaffirms Negotiations as Path to Resolve Dispute with Israel

President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)
President Joseph Aoun between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri (Lebanese Presidency file photo)

Senior Lebanese officials reaffirmed their commitment to negotiations with Israel through the international committee tasked with overseeing the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, known as the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, following Hezbollah’s statement on Thursday in which the group told them it rejects any form of political negotiation.

Communication between Lebanon and Israel is limited to a United Nations-backed monitoring mechanism involving France and the US. The two sides meet separately under UN auspices but do not engage in direct talks.

Berri: No to normalization

While President Joseph Aoun underscored Lebanon’s adherence to this mechanism, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said there is no alternative to it. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam responded to Hezbollah by saying that decisions of war and peace rest solely with the state.

Berri told Asharq Al Awsat that normalization with Israel is out of the question.

“Anyone calling for normalization should know it is impossible,” he said.

“I remain firm in my position on the mechanism, which brings together all parties, Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and the United Nations. There is no objection to bringing in civilian specialists when needed, as happened during the demarcation of the Blue Line in 2000, when geological and mapping experts were involved.”

Berri added that Israel’s threats and airstrikes will not alter Lebanon’s stance.

On the electoral law, Berri said he has not yet received the draft. Once it reaches him, he will decide his position. The government had approved a draft law scrapping the six seats allocated to expatriates and allowing overseas voters to cast ballots in their place of residence, according to their electoral registration. Berri and Hezbollah oppose the changes.

Berri has insisted on implementing the current parliamentary election law, saying it remains technically and legally viable. He also questioned why some political actors are backtracking on previous positions “for maneuvers we all know are futile.” He said: “This law was once described by George Adwan (Lebanese Forces deputy leader) as his own. So what was valid in past elections is suddenly not valid today?”

Aoun: We are committed to the November agreement

The President reaffirmed “Lebanon’s commitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement reached in November 2024 under US and French sponsorship.”

Speaking during a meeting with a World Bank delegation, he said Israel had not complied.

“According to this deal, Israel was supposed to withdraw completely and fully from the South sixty days after the agreement, but it still occupies five hills and is escalating its attacks on Lebanon amidst increasing daily threats against the country and its people,” said Aoun.

Salam: Decisions of war and peace rest with the government

The Prime Minister said Lebanon is moving steadily toward reclaiming its natural role within the Arab region.

He voiced satisfaction at “Lebanon’s return to the Arabs and the Arabs’ return to Lebanon,” saying this renewed relationship forms “a foundation for national recovery in technology, the economy and security.”

Speaking at an event dedicated to technology and artificial intelligence, Salam recalled that the government has made a “clear decision” regarding the state’s monopoly over arms, stressing that the Lebanese Army’s plan to achieve this “is progressing according to well-defined stages.”

This plan is still in its first phase, Salam noted, alluding to the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River.

Responding to Hezbollah’s statement, Salam said that decisions of war and peace lie exclusively with the Lebanese government, which alone is responsible for protecting sovereignty and maintaining stability.

He described Israeli escalation as dangerous and a threat to regional security, saying the government is seeking Arab and international support to stop Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory and strengthen the state’s ability to assert full authority across its land.

On Lebanese-Syrian relations, Salam said the era of interference in Syria’s affairs has ended. Lebanon is committed to a policy of self-distancing and to mutual respect with all Arab states, he reaffirmed.

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Arab World

Yemeni, Int’l Efforts Underway to Open Route into Besieged Taiz Within Days

Government efforts to open a route for humanitarian aid deliveries in Taiz (local media)
Government efforts to open a route for humanitarian aid deliveries in Taiz (local media)
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Yemeni, Int’l Efforts Underway to Open Route into Besieged Taiz Within Days

Government efforts to open a route for humanitarian aid deliveries in Taiz (local media)
Government efforts to open a route for humanitarian aid deliveries in Taiz (local media)

Yemeni government officials are working with local authorities and humanitarian organizations to open a road through one of the main entrances to the city of Taiz to deliver urgently needed relief supplies to the province, which is under siege by Houthi militias.

The operation is expected to take place in the coming days.

Nayef al-Bakri, Yemen's Minister of Youth and Sports and head of the Committee for Popular Mobilization and Government Support for the Armed Forces, told Asharq Al-Awsat in a telephone interview that the committee was making every effort, in coordination with international partners, to assist residents trapped in Taiz.

He said a relief convoy being prepared would carry fuel, medicines and other essential supplies, while additional convoys would be dispatched to provinces and areas affected by Houthi attacks.

Bakri said what troubled the militias most was the exceptional resilience and loyalty to their country demonstrated by the people of Taiz.

He praised the city's men, young people and women for their sacrifices in the face of the siege and Houthi attacks, saying the world had witnessed powerful images of women in Taiz, including one carrying the body of her son killed in the fighting and another purchasing weapons for the resistance.

He said these images reflected the city's unwavering loyalty and determination to defend religion and country.

Asked how the aid would reach Taiz, Bakri said the committee was in constant contact with the provincial governor and was exploring routes and access points to deliver available supplies, including fuel, medicines and other humanitarian necessities.

He said discussions were also underway with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) about its potential role in facilitating the delivery of aid, adding that efforts to secure access were continuing.

Bakri said Hadramout province would send aid donated by its residents to Taiz. The committee had also sent letters to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), requesting additional assistance for the province.

He noted that the center was already providing extensive programs and continued support across Yemen's provinces.

Bakri said Yemen was witnessing a broad community mobilization to support people affected by the war, particularly as more than 200,000 families had been displaced.

He praised the solidarity shown among Yemenis across different provinces in sheltering displaced families and meeting their needs.

He said the government and local authorities were fulfilling their responsibilities toward displaced families alongside community-led initiatives and humanitarian efforts undertaken by the committee.

Nayef al-Bakri, Yemen's Minister of Youth and Sports and head of the Committee for Popular Mobilization and Government Support for the Armed Forces

On assistance to other provinces, Bakri said the committee, in cooperation with local authorities in Aden, had carried out a relief campaign for residents of Al-Subaiha, Al-Mudaraba and Ras al-Ara, particularly families whose areas had come under missile fire and Houthi attacks.

He said a relief convoy had been dispatched two days earlier, while preparations were underway for additional convoys in coordination with the governor of Lahj to support people affected in Al-Mudaraba district and surrounding areas.

Bakri said relief efforts also extended to Al-Dhale province, where the committee was coordinating with the governor to provide assistance to families affected by the fighting in Murais, Qataba and frontline areas.

He said the committee's work had both community and humanitarian dimensions, focusing on supporting families and provinces suffering from the consequences of the war and Houthi attacks.

"The committee is expanding its relief operations in the coming days to include districts along the western coast, particularly Mawza, Al-Waziya and Mokha, which are experiencing large waves of displacement as a result of military operations and Houthi attacks," Bakri said.

He added that the assistance would also reach displaced people's camps in Aden and Lahj provinces, in coordination with international organizations and government agencies responsible for displaced populations.

"In Shabwa province, the committee is arranging relief convoys to support districts witnessing military confrontations," Bakri said.

He said preparations were also underway to organize and dispatch a convoy from Al-Mahra province to Al-Jawf, while several provinces continued providing support to the battlefronts in Marib.

Bakri stressed that Yemenis from all walks of life, including displaced people, were participating in the “Dawn of Yemen” battle and joining various battlefronts.

Turning to Saudi support, Bakri said the Kingdom played an important role in assisting Yemen as a whole.

He praised the efforts of the joint forces and KSrelief in delivering aid to people affected by the conflict.

He also emphasized the importance of assistance delivered to Aden with the support of the joint forces and KSrelief, saying it had helped families affected by the fighting and eased the consequences of the war.

Arab World

Terrorist Attack on Church in Jordan's Karak Leaves Dozens Dead, Wounded

Jordanian security personnel in the capital, Amman (Reuters/File Photo)
Jordanian security personnel in the capital, Amman (Reuters/File Photo)
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Terrorist Attack on Church in Jordan's Karak Leaves Dozens Dead, Wounded

Jordanian security personnel in the capital, Amman (Reuters/File Photo)
Jordanian security personnel in the capital, Amman (Reuters/File Photo)

Jordan's King Abdullah II vowed to impose the "harshest penalties" on those responsible for an attack on a church in Karak, southern Jordan, that left dozens of people dead and wounded.

The king visited people injured in the "terrorist attack" and checked on their condition, according to the Jordan News Agency.

The Jordanian monarch stressed the need to confront the perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Karak with the harshest penalties, expressing confidence that those who believed their treacherous bullets could divide Jordanians would see their efforts fail. He reaffirmed the strength and unity of the Jordanian people.

In a post on X, the king said: "All Jordanians, from the north of the country to the south, share the same land and stand united, and no act of treachery will divide them."

King Abdullah offered condolences to the families of those killed and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

"Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will deal with an iron fist with anyone who attacks this country," he said.

In Hamoud village in Karak Governorate, about 150 kilometers south of the capital, Amman, two gunmen opened fire indiscriminately with automatic rifles, killing several people and wounding dozens, some critically.

The village is home to the Christian Al Halasa clan, one of the largest Christian clans in the governorate.

Surveillance footage from outside the church, widely circulated online, showed the two gunmen carrying out the attack. A third armed man also appeared in the footage but apparently did not manage to fire his weapon.

Eyewitness Account

An eyewitness described to Asharq Al-Awsat the horrifying scenes experienced by people near the church.

At approximately 2:15 p.m. local time in Amman, two armed men entered and opened fire. Bloodshed quickly engulfed the area, with bodies lying outside the church before the scene of the massacre extended into the church's nave.

One eyewitness, who had been standing at the church entrance, said he initially struggled to comprehend what was happening.

He realized the gravity of the attack only when a bullet missed him and struck his cousin, who was standing beside him, in the chest. His cousin died in his arms.

The witness described being overwhelmed by shock and confusion as his cousin died in his arms while his mother remained inside the church.

Realizing that death surrounded the building, he rushed through gunfire coming from every direction in an attempt to rescue his mother, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

"The shooting went on for a long time, and no one managed to stop the two gunmen," he said.

The scenes described by the eyewitness were documented in dozens of videos circulated on social media.

The attack was unprecedented in Jordan, targeting members of the Christian community in Karak, a governorate known for its tradition of coexistence between Muslims and Christians.

Who Were the Attackers?

Jordanian Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh subsequently declared that the country was confronting "a terrorist operation carried out by a group of extremists who committed a horrific act."

Public Security Director Maj. Gen. Obaidallah Maaytah later announced that the death toll had risen to seven, with 27 people wounded.

The church had been receiving mourners attending a funeral service for a member of the clan and was crowded with people paying their respects.

The gathering made it easier for the attackers to inflict a large number of casualties among villagers who traditionally come together for such occasions.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the two attackers, who fled the scene, were residents of Karak Governorate and adherents of extremist takfiri ideology.

They were reportedly aware of the location and timing of the funeral service, indicating that the attack had been premeditated.

The sources confirmed that the identities of the two attackers had been established and that security forces were continuing to search for them and other suspects believed to be involved in a terrorist cell.

They added that entrances and exits to the governorate had been secured to prevent the suspects from escaping.

Maj. Gen. Maaytah confirmed that authorities possessed information about the perpetrators of the terrorist attack but said it was premature to disclose the suspects' names.

He also declined to set a deadline for their arrest.

"We cannot specify a timeframe for concluding the operation because it depends on the nature of the situation," he said.

This is not the first time Karak has experienced a terrorist attack.

Residents still recall the events at Karak Castle in December 2016, when security forces pursued ISIS members who subsequently barricaded themselves inside the historic fortress, where weapons had been concealed.

During that incident, hostages were held inside the castle, and the operation lasted more than 15 hours.

According to the account, 14 people, including security personnel, civilians and a foreign tourist, were killed, while many others near the castle were wounded. All four militants involved in the attack were also killed.

Arab World

Lebanon: Judicial Warrants Target Suspects in Hezbollah Explosives Case

Lebanon’s Military Court (National News Agency)
Lebanon’s Military Court (National News Agency)
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Lebanon: Judicial Warrants Target Suspects in Hezbollah Explosives Case

Lebanon’s Military Court (National News Agency)
Lebanon’s Military Court (National News Agency)

The investigation into a Hezbollah explosives shipment has widened, with Lebanese authorities issuing search notices for two people who went into hiding after being summoned for questioning.

Lebanese Army intelligence and the Internal Security Forces' Information Branch are also examining data extracted from phones linked to the case. Meanwhile, authorities have been unable to bring in two Hezbollah officials previously ordered to appear for questioning, as the group refuses to hand over wanted members and demands the return of the truck and its cargo.

Search notices issued as new suspects emerge

Judicial authorities have taken further action as preliminary investigations uncover new information.

A judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Judge Claude Ghanem, the government commissioner to the Military Court, had issued search notices for the wife of detainee Haitham Amhaz and the owner of the truck that transported the explosives.

The two were summoned for questioning by the Lebanese Army's Intelligence Directorate but failed to appear and went into hiding, the source said.

The source added that investigators had made progress in identifying additional people suspected of involvement in the shipment.

The move marks a new development in the security investigation, which continues to examine evidence related to the shipment and those involved in transporting it.

It also adds two names to the list of wanted individuals, while orders to bring in two Hezbollah officials known as "Sajed" and "Zulfiqar" remain unenforced.

Hezbollah refuses to hand over suspects, demands explosives returned

Despite developments in the investigation, Hezbollah continues to demand that the Lebanese state return the truck and its cargo of explosives, while refusing to allow wanted officials and members to appear for questioning.

The group has also escalated its challenge to the Lebanese state, declaring that it would treat "any attempt to arrest one of its officials or members as an Israeli act of aggression."

The judicial source said the preliminary investigation was continuing on two parallel tracks, led by Lebanese Army intelligence and the Internal Security Forces' Information Branch, despite the failure of those summoned to appear.

The source stressed that the investigation would continue regardless of whether the wanted individuals were handed over, saying the procedures would run their course.

Investigators examine phones and communications

The source said data extracted from the phones of detainees Ali al-Kurdi and Haitham Amhaz, as well as Amhaz's wife's phone, had yielded information that investigators were verifying and cross-checking against other findings.

The information remains under review, with no final conclusions or decisions on possible further action, the source said.

The examination of phone data has become particularly important because investigators have been unable to question the wanted individuals.

The source said investigators were focusing on the content of communications and the nature of the connections revealed by the data.

"Important information has undoubtedly emerged and is being examined to determine the responsibility of everyone connected in some way to this shipment," the source said.