The latest
A Gulf state has entered the mediation track between President Donald Trump’s administration and Hezbollah, in an effort to contain the escalation between Lebanon and Israel and test a limited de-escalation formula.
Semi-confirmed information obtained by +ontime indicates that the channel involved Ammar al-Moussawi, Hezbollah’s official in charge of Arab and international relations, along with another senior figure in the group.
The information also indicates that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was not the main channel for these contacts, despite his usual role in indirect negotiations linked to the Lebanon front.
Details
• +ontime’s information indicates that the Gulf mediation channel carried messages between the Trump administration and Hezbollah’s leadership.
• The channel included al-Moussawi and another senior Hezbollah figure, though the level of authorization inside the group remains unclear.
• Publicly, Trump said he had been in contact with Hezbollah representatives and that the group had agreed to stop firing at Israel and its soldiers.
• Neither Washington nor Hezbollah has officially confirmed the channel, the Gulf state involved, or the names of Hezbollah officials who took part.
• The current track follows a notable shift in Hezbollah’s language toward the Gulf. On September 19, 2025, Naim Qassem called on Saudi Arabia to “open a new page” with the group and to pursue dialogue over disputes and concerns.
• Lebanese and Israeli sources later reported foreign moves by al-Moussawi, including a secret visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2025. Those reports said the visit was arranged through Turkish mediation, with President Joseph Aoun informed and Berri managing the political framing.
• Ynet and Israel National News also cited Lebanese sources saying a Hezbollah delegation led by al-Moussawi visited Doha in late December 2025, after a stop in Turkey, and held a series of meetings there.
• The pattern suggests Hezbollah had been testing new regional doors since late 2025, especially after Qassem’s overture to Saudi Arabia.
What to watch
The key question is whether the Gulf mediation was only an emergency channel to reduce fire, or the start of a wider track for managing contacts between Washington and Hezbollah through regional capitals.
If al-Moussawi’s role is confirmed, it would suggest Hezbollah did not treat the channel as a narrow security message. It viewed it as a political track requiring the involvement of its regional relations official.
Source: , Israel National News.
