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Lebanon Seeks Real Ceasefire from Early Monday

A bulldozer clears debris from outside a damaged building after an overnight Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre (AFP)
A bulldozer clears debris from outside a damaged building after an overnight Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre (AFP)
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Lebanon Seeks Real Ceasefire from Early Monday

A bulldozer clears debris from outside a damaged building after an overnight Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre (AFP)
A bulldozer clears debris from outside a damaged building after an overnight Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre (AFP)

Lebanon will test before dawn on Monday whether Israel will honor a ceasefire and halt attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and whether Hezbollah will match that commitment, in a push to turn a fragile pause into real calm on the ground.

The expected de-escalation would pave the way for the security track to begin smoothly at the end of this month and for the political track to resume early next month.

But Hezbollah said direct negotiations with Israel would “strengthen Israeli gains at Lebanon’s expense,” warning the Lebanese authorities “not to go too far in deviant choices with the enemy” and blaming the talks for continued Israeli pressure and attacks.

A Lebanese official source told Asharq Al-Awsat that contacts Lebanon has made after the first round of direct negotiations with Israel in Washington have focused on securing those principles before moving to the next steps in the security and political tracks.

The source said Lebanon had stressed in talks with the US sponsor of the negotiations that the ceasefire must hold and that attacks on infrastructure and civilian facilities must stop. The source said the initial Israeli response showed readiness to comply if the other side, Hezbollah, did the same.

“We have informed the concerned parties inside Lebanon, the party, of these details,” the source said.

“The Lebanese presidency was informed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that the party is ready to halt fire if Israel commits to doing so. Things are now being put to the test, especially since the Israeli side’s pledges cannot be trusted, as experience has shown so far,” the source added.

The source said Berri had informed the presidency that Hezbollah was ready to issue a public pledge before the extended ceasefire deadline expires at midnight Sunday into Monday.

Hezbollah warned against “attempts to reproduce something more dangerous than the May 17 Agreement” by pushing for a “full and comprehensive peace agreement” between Lebanon and Israel. It said any such path would be a “deviation” from national principles and a breach of the Lebanese constitution, Lebanon’s history and the sacrifices of its people.

The party issued its statement on the 43rd anniversary of the May 17, 1983 agreement, reaffirming its commitment to “resistance” and rejecting any peace agreement with Israel.

Hezbollah said the Lebanese authorities were “dealing with the enemy as if it were a peaceful, recognized entity,” despite the continued “Israeli occupation and attacks.” It warned that such a course could threaten domestic stability and rejected “any foreign dictates or pressure, whether American or otherwise,” which it said aimed to impose political choices on Lebanon.

It said direct negotiations with Israel serve to “strengthen Israeli gains at Lebanon’s expense,” urged the Lebanese authorities “not to go too far in deviant choices with the enemy,” and blamed the negotiation track for continued Israeli pressure and attacks.

As Israeli escalation continued in the south, Lebanon’s internal political debate over Hezbollah’s weapons and its role in the next phase intensified. The US-sponsored negotiation track in Washington has again placed the issue of restricting arms to the Lebanese state at the top of the political and security agenda.

MP Fouad Makhzoumi hardened his position on the weapons issue, saying “the era of weapons outside the state is over” and that any coming settlement must reinforce the authority of the Lebanese state and its sole right to decide on war and peace.

In a post on X, Makhzoumi said extending the ceasefire and launching the political and security tracks under US sponsorship offer a chance to rebuild the state and strengthen the Lebanese army as the only authority responsible for protecting the borders, the land and the people. He said all weapons outside Lebanese legitimacy must end.

MP Ali Khreis, a member of the Development and Liberation bloc, condemned the Israeli raids on Tyre during a tour of the city, saying “the resistance cannot kneel or bow to pressure.”

“What was said yesterday about extending the ceasefire is a false extension, as the Israeli enemy bombed residential buildings, neighborhoods and infrastructure and destroyed them completely. This shows the enemy’s premeditated intentions toward our people in Tyre and the south,” he said.

Other political positions, meanwhile, stressed the need to restore the Lebanese state’s authority and its sole power over decisions of war and peace.

MP Ghayath Yazbeck, a member of the Lebanese Forces bloc, urged the Lebanese state to “seize the opportunity on the table to save the country from the repercussions of Hezbollah’s policies.”

He said the proposed political and security tracks could lead to long-term understandings, provided Lebanon fulfills its pledges to place weapons exclusively under state control.

Yazbeck said Lebanon’s decisions should be driven by “the interests of the Lebanese people, not Iran’s calculations or Hezbollah’s choices.” He said Hezbollah is demanding a ceasefire while rejecting the steps that could make it hold.

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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.