Lebanon’s crisis has grown more tangled, as "Israel," in coordination with U.S. envoys, has shifted the spotlight from occupation and the right to retaliate, toward an internal standoff between Beirut and Hezbollah, amid mounting talk of a second phase in the group’s disarmament plan.

Lebanon’s May 10, 2026, elections face uncertainty amid disputes over expatriate voting, foreign pressure, and links to Hezbollah’s weapons and reforms.

Saad Hariri signaled a cautious political return, emphasizing a united Lebanon, distancing from Hezbollah, and re-energizing the Future Movement amid complex regional dynamics.

As part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump announced on January 16, 2026, the appointment of General Jasper Jeffers to lead the newly established International Stabilization Force in the Gaza Strip.

Despite the Trump administration’s direct complicity in the aggression on the Arab world and the wider Middle East, the president’s new national security strategy sketches a shift in Washington’s priorities, signaling a pullback from the region.