Lead:
Defense Minister Michel Mansa's recent statement on military prerogatives has triggered competing constitutional readings about who controls security policy in Lebanon, occurring as columnists debate whether dialogue with armed groups outside state law is compatible with building a functioning state. Simultaneously, analysts assess how U.S. election results and personnel shifts in Washington may alter American strategy toward Iran, Lebanon-Israel ceasefire terms, and mediators like Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi attempting to broker peace.
Voices & Positions:
In Addiyar, columnists assess the fallout from U.S. midterm losses reshaping the Trump administration's foreign policy team. One writer argues that Stephen Miller's appointment as Trump's gatekeeper signals the administration will prioritize ending wars over escalating them, shifting focus inward while ceding diplomatic space to regional competitors like Iran and Russia. Another Addiyar piece contends that Israel's legal standing to sue Iran for war damages exposes a double standard that prevents Lebanon from pursuing parallel claims in international courts.
In Annahar, Lana Nseibeh's candidacy for UN Secretary-General is presented as worthy of serious consideration given her record, amid broader arguments that the organization's credibility depends on translating diplomatic effort into concrete results halting conflicts and delivering humanitarian aid.
Multiple columnists in both publications argue that Hezbollah exploits "civil peace" rhetoric as coercive leverage to block state decisions rather than as a foundation for state recovery. One writer states plainly: Lebanon cannot become a real state before completely disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its security, military, and financial apparatus.
Analysts examining U.S.-Iran tensions note that Trump has ruled out immediate strikes, creating diplomatic space for mediators, though daily tensions in the Strait of Hormuz persist. One piece criticizes proposed U.S. military cooperation with Saudi Arabia and UAE against Houthi forces as insufficient without strong diplomatic pressure to address internal Gulf rifts that Iran exploits.
Commentary on Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi notes the courteous tone masks the vast distance between negotiating etiquette and willingness to concede territory—a third round this year without progress toward halting the fighting.
Tension & Convergence:
Writers converge that Lebanon's political dysfunction prevents real state-building while armed groups operate outside constitutional bounds. They diverge sharply on remedies: some invoke dialogue and gradual security sector reform; others reject negotiation with extraconstitutional actors as legitimizing their power.
On U.S. policy, columnists agree the American midterm result signals reduced appetite for Middle East wars but diverge on whether this creates space for Iranian negotiation or merely postpones confrontation. One writer accuses the U.S. of contradictory messaging—promoting regional peace while maintaining policies and sanctions that destabilize it.
Editorial Takeaway:
The dominant voice today is that Lebanon's security crisis and regional negotiations remain hostage to the gap between diplomatic courtesy and willingness to enforce actual change—whether in disarming militias, enforcing constitutional authority, or achieving ceasefire agreements.