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In a style reminiscent of a film trailer, a 10-second video released on Thursday showed Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, strolling past a poster featuring his party's emblem – a yellow flag with an assault rifle – accompanied by suspenseful background music.
The video, which was widely shared on social media in Lebanon, coincided with the announcement that Mr Nasrallah would make a speech on Friday at 3pm, as the total number of Hezbollah fighters killed since fighting with Israel erupted at the border last month has risen to 50.
The announcement, which follows three weeks of conspicuous silence, has left many Lebanese holding their breath amid a widespread perception that the leader of Hezbollah, a powerful militia and influential political party backed by Iran, holds the country's future in his hands.
Officially, his speech will be a tribute to the party’s fighters that were killed in recent clashes between Hezbollah and Israel after Hamas's October 7 attack.
However, for many Lebanese, it has the potential to become a turning point that will determine whether their country will be drawn into a devastating war or remain on the sidelines.
“Rarely has a speech been anticipated with such a combination of stress and anxiety among the Lebanese population,” political analyst Karim Bitar told The National.
“Mr Nasrallah is known for addressing the public daily during times of conflict, he has not said a word in three weeks.”
Mr Bitar said his silence was a type of “psychological warfare”.
The silence is part of Mr Nasrallah's management of this battle, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said late last month, and “it is also what confuses the enemy”.
Drawing red lines
The Lebanese government, while stressing it does not want Lebanon to become involved in the conflict, has repeatedly said that the decision was ultimately not in its hands.
Hezbollah, which swiftly voiced support for Hamas's attack and offered to provide assistance, and its ally Iran are the primary decision-makers in this situation.
“We can see how non-state armed groups have appropriated the decisions of war and peace that traditionally belong to the state, which is emblematic of the state's powerlessness,” said Karim Mufti, a professor of international relations at Sciences Po Paris.
But analysts suggest that a formal declaration of war is highly unlikely.
“It's not his usual approach,” said Mr Mufti.
He said the speech is more likely to be an opportunity for Mr Nasrallah, known for his eloquence, to delineate red lines in the conflict, while stressing the principles of deterrence.
For now, both enemies appear to understand that they cannot afford a new front. Israel is already facing difficulties in Gaza, while Lebanon is grappling with one of the worst economic crises in modern history, leading to widespread opposition to the war.
The clashes have so far been limited to a few border villages, loosely adhering to the informal “rules of engagement” that govern retaliation between the two enemies, Mr Mufti said.
He added that the red lines might include any forced evacuation of the population from Gaza reminiscent of the Nakba in 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were permanently displaced from their homes, or the threat of the complete destruction of Hamas.
The speech will also provide an opportunity for Mr Nasrallah to express support for the Palestinian cause and stress that resistance to Israel remains at the core of Hezbollah's actions.
But “this has not been the case for years”, Mr Mufti explained.
“The speech will stay within the theme of escalation and the threat,” he said.
“In any case, as an armed group in a state of war, it is an opportunity for them to exist without themselves crossing the red lines.
“But you never really know – with Hezbollah, everything is possible.”
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
