Source: Kataeb.org
Security & Justice
Lebanon and Syria Coordinating ‘Daily’ on Security Matters, Minister Says
Syrian and Lebanese security forces are liaising daily on counter-terrorism and other security matters, Lebanon's Interior Minister, Retd Brig Gen Ahmad Al Hajjar, has told The National.
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Familiar Map, Different Occupation: Israel’s New Zone in Southern Lebanon Compared With 2000
Israel’s expanding military presence in southern Lebanon has revived comparisons with the security belt it maintained before its withdrawal in 2000. Although the current Israeli-controlled zone overlaps with parts of the former occupation map, particularly along the border, the two periods represent different forms of military control.
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Opinion
Israel and Lebanon Cannot Afford Another False Dawn
The history of attempts to resolve the conflict between Israel and Lebanon has been marked by repeated false dawns. Each round of fighting has typically been followed by some form of agreement, often even a UN Security Council resolution to give it an international stamp of approval, only for hostilities to resume at some point. The common denominator has been the failure to implement what had been agreed. What has always complicated matters is that Israel’s conflict has not been with the Lebanese government but with non-state actors: until 1982, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and since then, Hezbollah. In both cases, their hostility has been directed not only against Israel but also against the Lebanese state.
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Lebanon Isn’t a ‘Small Piece of the Puzzle.’ It’s the Whole Game.
President Donald Trump suggested this month that Lebanon is a “very small piece of the puzzle” he’s trying to put together in the Middle East. But Trump’s dismissiveness could cost him: Far from some ancillary fragment, Lebanon is the linchpin of the president’s dealings with Tehran.
Monday, June 29, 2026
Sports
Portugal beats Spain to win Nations League
Portugal defeated Spain in penalty kicks 5- 3 to win the UEFA Nations League final late on Sunday after both sides failed to score in extra time following a showdown that ended 2-2.
Monday, June 9, 2025
Alcaraz Wins Roland Garros, Completing Historic Comeback from Two Sets Down
Carlos Alcaraz mounted an extraordinary comeback to win the men’s final at Roland Garros on Sunday, defeating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2).
Monday, June 9, 2025
Wednesday 15 July 2026 11:19:35
Axios: Trump Presses Netanyahu on Israeli Pullback From Lebanon, Syria
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on Thursday to move forward with Israeli troop redeployments in Lebanon and begin withdrawing forces from Syria, according to U.S. and Israeli officials cited by Axios.
According to the report, Trump encouraged Netanyahu to proceed with additional redeployments in Lebanon beyond those already agreed upon and also pressed him to begin pulling Israeli troops out of Syrian territory.
The requests come as Netanyahu faces mounting political pressure ahead of elections expected in three months, which are widely seen as critical to both his political future and personal legal standing.
Axios said Netanyahu is unlikely to approve further withdrawals in Lebanon or undertake any significant military pullback from Syria despite Trump's appeal.
Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon and southern Syria, with the Israeli government arguing that the deployments are necessary to prevent another cross-border attack similar to the October 7, 2023 assault.
However, according to Axios, several senior members of Netanyahu's government favor maintaining an open-ended military presence in both areas, with some also advocating the establishment of Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian territory.
A U.S. official told the news outlet that Trump raised concerns about Israel's military presence in Syria, warning that it was fueling tensions and could lead to further escalation.
"They don't want you there. You should redeploy," Trump told Netanyahu regarding Syria, according to the official, who added that the president conveyed the same message concerning Lebanon.
Netanyahu, for his part, reiterated Israel's security concerns during the conversation.
"The prime minister raised the need for security zones along Israel's borders," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
The phone call took place one day after Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey.
According to U.S. officials cited by Axios, the Trump administration has spent months attempting to broker a new security arrangement between Israel and Syria. Those efforts ultimately stalled after Washington concluded that Netanyahu was unwilling to make the concessions it sought.
The proposals included a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from territory seized following the collapse of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024, the report said.
In recent weeks, tensions have escalated in southern Syria, where local residents have staged protests against the Israeli military presence, leading to several confrontations with Israeli troops.
A U.S. official emphasized that Trump's requests should not be viewed as a sign of strained ties between Washington and Jerusalem.
"President Trump has a strong relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Israel has always been a great ally of the United States," the official told Axios. "There has been no greater friend to Israel or stronger advocate for peace than President Trump."
