Latest news with #ShiaIslamist
Ya Libnan
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Barrack piles on pressure on Lebanon over Hezbollah disarmament
The special envoy has led US discussions with Lebanese leaders over Hezbollah's disarmament over the months [Getty/file photo] US envoy Tom Barrack has continued to apply pressure on the Lebanese government to speed up the disarming of Hezbollah . The ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria warned on Sunday that the Lebanese government's credibility 'rests on its ability to match principle with practice,' in reference to pledges that Beirut has made to gain state monopoly on arms. 'The government and Hezbollah need to fully commit and act now in order to not consign the Lebanese people to the stumbling status quo,' he said. 'As long as Hezbollah retains arms, words will not suffice.' On Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that negotiations with Hezbollah remain ongoing but acknowledged that they were progressing very slowly. 'There is some responsiveness to the ideas we're discussing, even things are moving at a slow pace,' he said. Hezbollah had rejected Barrack's roadmap that would see the group disarm within four months, in exchange for a halt to Israeli withdrawal from the country, as well as a cessation of strikes. The group's current leader, Naim Qassem, said: 'We are a people who do not surrender', and rejected US pressure to act on the matter. Qassem , while maintaining being open to dialogue, has continuously stressed that the group giving up its arms would be 'suicidal' amid Israel's frequent strikes on the country's south. Disarmament has been the centre of national and international negotiations with Lebanon following the November ceasefire, with Barrack making several diplomatic visits to Beirut on the matter since his appointment. One of Lebanon's most high-profile politicians, Walid Jumblatt , spoke in favour of Hezbollah's disarmament in an interview with Saudi channel Al-Arabiya . The Druze leader said that Hezbollah must 'realise that keeping its weapons and missiles serves no purpose,' stressing that it would cause problems for the country and Lebanon would 'not stabilise' as a result, in Saturday's interview. Founded in the 1980s in response to Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon, the Iran-backed group grew into a Shia Islamist party and militant group. The group has fought several conflicts against Israel, but was significantly weakened late last year after Tel Aviv launched a full-scale war in Lebanon, in parallel with the military onslaught in Gaza. Several high-profile members were killed, including its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, as well as his successor, Hashem Safieddine. More than 4,000 Lebanese were killed by Israel, who struck the country's south, Beirut and the eastern Beqaa Valley, among other locations. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was then reached in November last year, which Israel routinely continues to violate, cling that Hezbollah has not complied with UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701 which call for disarming all militias in Lebanon New Arab
Metro
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Kneecap's Mo Chara arrives at court for terror offence charge
Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. The rapper, who is part of the Belfast rap group alongside Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí (real names Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and J J Ó Dochartaigh), was charged with a terror offence over an incident at a gig in the O2 in north London. The 27-year-old was accused of displaying a flag in support of the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK. Arriving at the Magistrates Court, the artist wore dark black sunglasses and a dark jacket with a white and black scarf sitting on his shoulders. Hundreds of supporters cheered as he arrived at court alongside his bandmates. The bandmates were both wearing T-shirts that read 'Free Mo Chara.' The group smiled and gave their fans the thumbs up as they walked up the stairs to the court. Some surged through the entrance and entered the lobby of the magistrates' court, just before the hearing. The artist arrived as protesters and counter protesters demonstrated outside of the courtroom, some in support of his actions, and others in protest. Earlier in the morning, police removed a pro-Israel protester who wore an Israeli flag on their shoulders, provoking boos and swearing from the crowd. At one point, an advertisement van drove past the court, emblazoned with the support slogan used for Mo Chara – More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara. Kneecap was formed in 2017 and has risen to prominence in recent years with songs including C.E.A.R.T.A, H.O.O.D. and Get Your Brits Out. The band has been vocal in their unerring support of Palestine, frequently using their performances and social media pages to speak about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. On the night of the incident in question, Mo Chara is alleged to have displayed the flag 'in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.' The incident is alleged to have happened at a concert last November – but the Metropolitan Police said it was only made aware of video evidence in April. The full charge read: 'On November 21, 2024, in a public place, namely the O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London, displayed an article, namely a flag, in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely Hezbollah, contrary to section 13(1)(b) and (3) of the Terrorism Act 2000.' In a statement issued in response to the charge, Kneecap said on social media on May 22: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again, the British establishment is focused on us. More Trending 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is. As they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. 'A charge not serious enough to even warrant their 'crown court', instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? 'To restrict our travel ability. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare to speak out.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Kneecap land biggest show yet in London after terror offence charge MORE: Kneecap axed from lineup of major music festival due to 'police safety concerns' MORE: Kneecap declare 'they are trying to silence us' as rapper faces terror offence charge
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel's True Target May be Much Larger Than Iran's Nuclear Program
Israel's attack on Iran will no doubt set back Tehran's nuclear ambitions. But among many Middle East obsessives, there's a growing sense that the Israeli operation has the potential to lead to something much bigger: toppling Iran's Islamist government. Yeah, I'll say it. Regime change. It's a phrase that normally sends shudders through a Washington and a Middle East chastened by the U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a concept that has long left President Donald Trump extremely wary; his administration has already put out word it played no role in the attack. And the Israeli government hasn't declared that regime change is its official objective. Still, as I've listened to Israeli comments on the strikes and learned about their scope, including assassinations of top Iranian military officials, I've been struck by how they're not dismissing the possibility of regime change, either. When you put the moves in the context of Israeli military actions since fall 2023 — strikes that have ousted, helped oust or decimated multiple 'regimes' in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria — it doesn't seem that far-fetched. Ousting, or at the very least severely weakening, Iran's regime also is something Israel can arguably do on its own; it doesn't necessarily need American help on the offensive end. In his many-layered remarks about the early Friday strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation against Iran 'will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.' He never limited the definition of that threat to Iran's nuclear program. That's because the Israeli government sees Iran's regime itself, not merely its nuclear and military infrastructure, as the real danger. Given that Iranian leaders, many of them fervent believers in extreme Shia Islamist ideology, have long threatened to annihilate Israel, that's an unsurprising conclusion. As reports came in about the strikes and assassinations, I reached out to several current and former U.S. officials as well as analysts asking if the Israelis' real goal was regime change. No one ruled it out, and this was a bipartisan crowd. 'Why not? Sure,' said one former senior U.S. official who dealt with Middle East issues during the Biden administration. 'Wouldn't that be grand?' I granted the former official, and others, anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue candidly. Behnam Ben Taleblu, an analyst with the hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies, pointed out that the Israeli strikes went beyond just infrastructure and targeted Iran's command and control, meaning the operation can't simply 'be defined as counterproliferation.' Many in the Iranian diaspora — a famously fractious group where hopes of reforming Iran's regime have long faded — are hoping this is the moment they've long awaited. Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran whose father, the shah, was ousted by Islamist revolutionaries in the late 1970s, called on ordinary Iranians to seize the day and Iranian security forces to break with the clerical leadership. 'The regime is weak and divided. It could fall,' he wrote on social media. 'As I have told my compatriots: Iran is yours and yours to reclaim. I am with you. Stay strong and we will win.' There are many, many unknowns. Can Israel really carry out an operation that spurs regime change on its own? Military analysts generally agree that Israel would need U.S. help to take out all of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, much of which is buried deep underground. But if Israel pursues more assassinations, including of Iranian political leaders, a regime collapse isn't out of the question. Iran has already begun retaliating against Israel with drones, and Israelis need to determine how long they're willing to endure such bombardments — if Iran can keep them up. The U.S. and some Arab states are almost sure to help Israel defend itself, as they have before. Whether Iranians would turn on the regime is unclear. In some scenarios like this, you'd expect a rally-around-the-flag effect. But I've watched Iran for years, and my sense is that Iranians are so sick of the regime that many would welcome outside help in getting rid of it. Their response could depend, however, on Israeli tactics. 'Strikes that are confined to military and nuclear targets will be a blow to the regime's prestige, whereas strikes that cause broader economic and civilian harm could spur a different kind of popular response,' noted Michael Singh, who served on the National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration. Even if the Iranian government survives this Israeli onslaught, it could be weakened enough that its demise comes sooner than it would have otherwise. But that could depend on how much pressure outside powers, especially the United States, continue to place on a regime whose anti-Americanism is foundational. Already, there are calls from world capitals for Israel and Iran to avoid escalation. Given Israel's pattern in places like Gaza and Lebanon, I wouldn't bet on it heeding those demands. Sometimes the calls ring hollow anyway, especially if they come from Arab countries that would be thrilled to see Iran's regime fall. Even Trump, whom Netanyahu practically campaigned for, doesn't seem able to influence Israel's decisions. He's long been wary of getting entangled in Middle Eastern wars, and — publicly, at least — he'd urged Israel to wait until U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations were further along. But Israel struck before another round of those talks was due to be held Sunday. In his latest social media posts, Trump was using the threat of further Israeli strikes to urge the Iranians to make a deal that would constrain their nuclear program. (Iran has long claimed that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, not weapons.) 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire,' Trump wrote. (He may have meant the Persian Empire, which hasn't existed in quite a while, but that's not the point.) Even if the regime falls, there's no reason to be certain that something better will replace it, current and former officials warn. A failed, leaderless Iranian state could be a breeding ground for all sorts of new problems. A much more militarized autocracy also could take over, one unabashedly determined to obtain a nuclear weapon. 'History tells us it can always be worse,' Jonathan Panikoff, a former U.S. intelligence officer, wrote in an online analysis. 'Israel might find itself in a perpetual, ongoing, and far more intense war that is no longer in the shadows, as it has been for years.' Israel, however, may not be thinking that many steps ahead, argued one U.S. official who has long worked on the Middle East. "I don't think they care enough about what comes next as long as it's too weak to threaten Israel," the official said.
Politico
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Israel's True Target May be Much Larger Than Iran's Nuclear Program
Israel's attack on Iran will no doubt set back Tehran's nuclear ambitions. But among many Middle East obsessives, there's a growing sense that the Israeli operation has the potential to lead to something much bigger: toppling Iran's Islamist government. Yeah, I'll say it. Regime change. It's a phrase that normally sends shudders through a Washington and a Middle East chastened by the U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a concept that has long left President Donald Trump extremely wary; his administration has already put out word it played no role in the attack. And the Israeli government hasn't declared that regime change is its official objective. Still, as I've listened to Israeli comments on the strikes and learned about their scope, including assassinations of top Iranian military officials, I've been struck by how they're not dismissing the possibility of regime change, either. When you put the moves in the context of Israeli military actions since fall 2023 — strikes that have ousted, helped oust or decimated multiple 'regimes' in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria — it doesn't seem that far-fetched. Ousting, or at the very least severely weakening, Iran's regime also is something Israel can arguably do on its own; it doesn't necessarily need American help on the offensive end. In his many-layered remarks about the early Friday strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation against Iran 'will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.' He never limited the definition of that threat to Iran's nuclear program. That's because the Israeli government sees Iran's regime itself, not merely its nuclear and military infrastructure, as the real danger. Given that Iranian leaders, many of them fervent believers in extreme Shia Islamist ideology, have long threatened to annihilate Israel, that's an unsurprising conclusion. As reports came in about the strikes and assassinations, I reached out to several current and former U.S. officials as well as analysts asking if the Israelis' real goal was regime change. No one ruled it out, and this was a bipartisan crowd. 'Why not? Sure,' said one former senior U.S. official who dealt with Middle East issues during the Biden administration. 'Wouldn't that be grand?' I granted the former official, and others, anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue candidly. Behnam Ben Taleblu, an analyst with the hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies, pointed out that the Israeli strikes went beyond just infrastructure and targeted Iran's command and control, meaning the operation can't simply 'be defined as counterproliferation.' Many in the Iranian diaspora — a famously fractious group where hopes of reforming Iran's regime have long faded — are hoping this is the moment they've long awaited. Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran whose father, the shah, was ousted by Islamist revolutionaries in the late 1970s, called on ordinary Iranians to seize the day and Iranian security forces to break with the clerical leadership. 'The regime is weak and divided. It could fall,' he wrote on social media. 'As I have told my compatriots: Iran is yours and yours to reclaim. I am with you. Stay strong and we will win.' There are many, many unknowns. Can Israel really carry out an operation that spurs regime change on its own? Military analysts generally agree that Israel would need U.S. help to take out all of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, much of which is buried deep underground. But if Israel pursues more assassinations, including of Iranian political leaders, a regime collapse isn't out of the question. Iran has already begun retaliating against Israel with drones, and Israelis need to determine how long they're willing to endure such bombardments — if Iran can keep them up. The U.S. and some Arab states are almost sure to help Israel defend itself, as they have before. Whether Iranians would turn on the regime is unclear. In some scenarios like this, you'd expect a rally-around-the-flag effect. But I've watched Iran for years, and my sense is that Iranians are so sick of the regime that many would welcome outside help in getting rid of it. Their response could depend, however, on Israeli tactics. 'Strikes that are confined to military and nuclear targets will be a blow to the regime's prestige, whereas strikes that cause broader economic and civilian harm could spur a different kind of popular response,' noted Michael Singh, who served on the National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration. Even if the Iranian government survives this Israeli onslaught, it could be weakened enough that its demise comes sooner than it would have otherwise. But that could depend on how much pressure outside powers, especially the United States, continue to place on a regime whose anti-Americanism is foundational. Already, there are calls from world capitals for Israel and Iran to avoid escalation. Given Israel's pattern in places like Gaza and Lebanon, I wouldn't bet on it heeding those demands. Sometimes the calls ring hollow anyway, especially if they come from Arab countries that would be thrilled to see Iran's regime fall. Even Trump, whom Netanyahu practically campaigned for, doesn't seem able to influence Israel's decisions. He's long been wary of getting entangled in Middle Eastern wars, and — publicly, at least — he'd urged Israel to wait until U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations were further along. But Israel struck before another round of those talks was due to be held Sunday. In his latest social media posts, Trump was using the threat of further Israeli strikes to urge the Iranians to make a deal that would constrain their nuclear program. (Iran has long claimed that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, not weapons.) 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire,' Trump wrote. (He may have meant the Persian Empire, which hasn't existed in quite a while, but that's not the point.) Even if the regime falls, there's no reason to be certain that something better will replace it, current and former officials warn. A failed, leaderless Iranian state could be a breeding ground for all sorts of new problems. A much more militarized autocracy also could take over, one unabashedly determined to obtain a nuclear weapon. 'History tells us it can always be worse,' Jonathan Panikoff, a former U.S. intelligence officer, wrote in an online analysis. 'Israel might find itself in a perpetual, ongoing, and far more intense war that is no longer in the shadows, as it has been for years.' Israel, however, may not be thinking that many steps ahead, argued one U.S. official who has long worked on the Middle East. 'I don't think they care enough about what comes next as long as it's too weak to threaten Israel,' the official said.
Metro
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Kneecap member charged with terror offence over 'Hezbollah flag at London gig'
A member of the Belfast-born rap group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence. Liam O'Hanna is accused of displaying a flag in support of the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK. The incident is alleged to have happened at a gig in the O2 in north London last November, the Metropolitan Police said. The charge read: 'On November 21, 2024, in a public place, namely the O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London, displayed an article, namely a flag, in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation, namely Hezbollah, contrary to section 13(1)(b) and (3) of the Terrorism Act 2000.' O'Hanna is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: School boys deny throwing massive seat over balcony at Westfield MORE: Tube trains forced to skip Liverpool Street station after flooding MORE: Blind people raise fears after Shepherd's Bush housing block is put up for sale
