Washington-Beirut: Europe and the Arabs

US President Donald Trump described the war with Iran as a "minor diversion" or "minor distraction." Speaking at an event in Las Vegas, he said the war was "going smoothly" and was expected to "end soon." Trump was there to defend and promote his economic policies. According to him, the economy is now better off than it was during his first term as president "despite this minor diversion to appease Iran." Trump stated, "We had to do it, otherwise bad things could have happened." According to European media reports in Brussels, including the newspaper Newsblad, the president reiterated that the war would end "soon," claiming it was also "going smoothly." A Quinnipiac University poll shows that 65% of voters blame Trump for the recent rise in fuel prices. Today
Trump hopes Hezbollah will "behave properly" during the ceasefire

The US president expressed his hope that "Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, will behave properly and well" now that the ceasefire has taken effect in Lebanon. Trump made the announcement Thursday evening via his online platform, Truth Social.

"I hope Hezbollah behaves properly and well during this important period. If they do, it will be a great moment for them. No more killing. Peace must finally prevail!" The temporary truce in Lebanon may help the US reach an agreement with Iran, after the two sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire last week.

Hezbollah announced it would respect the ceasefire for ten days, provided Israel completely ceases hostilities.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese army reported that Israel had committed violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, which went into effect at midnight local time, including sporadic shelling of villages in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, the army urged civilians not to return to villages and towns in the south of the country at this time. There was no immediate response from the Israeli military.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, for its part, announced that it had shelled "a gathering of Israeli soldiers near the city of Khiam" in southern Lebanon in retaliation.

The United States is delaying arms deliveries to some European countries due to the war with Iran.

The United States has informed some European countries that previously ordered weapons will be delivered later. The delay is due to the war with Iran depleting a significant portion of US arms stockpiles.

According to sources, Baltic and Scandinavian countries, among others, are affected by this delay. This includes weapons purchased through the US Foreign Military Sales program but which have not yet been delivered.

European officials fear that this delay will weaken their defense readiness. US officials say these weapons are currently essential for the conflict in the Middle East and point out that US stockpiles were already strained due to previous military support for Ukraine and Israel.

For his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the announcement of a ten-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and praised the United States for its role in facilitating the agreement. According to the UN daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning, Friday:

The Secretary-General affirmed the United Nations' support for all efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line (in Lebanon and Israel).

A press statement issued by the UN Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General hopes the ceasefire will pave the way for negotiations, the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, and a lasting solution to the conflict.

The Secretary-General urged all parties to fully respect the ceasefire and comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, at all times.

The Secretary-General expressed hope that this agreement will contribute to ongoing efforts to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.

Humanitarian situation worsens

Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that humanitarian needs are worsening across the country as hostilities continue, with civilians still bearing the brunt of the violence. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 1.2 million people have been displaced by widespread Israeli evacuation orders, which have affected approximately 15% of Lebanese territory.

Dujarric stated that the bombing of the Qasmiyeh Bridge—a vital access route to Tyre—has further isolated areas south of the Litani River, impacting more than 106,000 people and disrupting peacekeeping operations, as “only one crossing point remains open.”

Dujarric noted that the urgent appeal for humanitarian operations in Lebanon—aimed at reaching one million people and requiring $308 million—has received less than a quarter of the necessary funding.

He added, “Vital humanitarian aid and services are at risk of severe reduction or suspension, while the number of people in need of assistance continues to rise rapidly.”