Lebanese Defense Minister: What happened in Beirut will not repeat itself

Lebanese Defense Minister Maurice Selim stressed that what happened in the Tayouneh area of ​​the capital, Beirut, will not be repeated, stressing that security forces are deployed there.

The minister indicated, in an interview with media Lebanese, that the Ministry of Defense had preliminary information confirming the peaceful nature of the movement, but that the stampede and confrontation in Tayouneh led to shootings on both sides, as confirmed by witnesses on the ground that the youth entered the streets by Ain al-Remmaneh.

As for the decision on Judge Al-Bitar, responsible for investigating the port, Selim believed that it was taken in judiciary and not in politics.

He also stressed that the military and the intelligence directorate are not subject to pressure related to investigations.

The minister concluded that what happened in Tayouneh will not repeat itself, and no developments are expected, and the security forces remain deployed.

The most violent clash in recent years

It should be noted that violent clashes broke out on Thursday in the Lebanese capital, recalling the years of the civil war and provoked political tension linked to the investigation into the investigation. Explosion of the port of Beirut.

Beirut witnessed one of the fiercest clashes in recent years, in a dangerous escalation that threatens to plunge the country in a new crisis, just over a month after the formation of a government that should focus its work on developing a plan to get the country out of the cycle of economic collapse that has controlled it for more than two years. The clashes also resulted in the deaths of 7 people and the injury of 32 others.

Lebanese army members at the scene of clashes in Beirut on October 14 (Reuters)

Lebanese army members at the scene of clashes in Beirut on October 14 (Reuters)

Battlefield

and turned around Tayouneh roundaboutTens of meters from the capital’s courthouse, where the office of the judicial investigator, Tariq Bitar, is located, who is in charge of investigating the explosion of the port, to a war scene that saw heavy gunfire and heavy bullets, and the spread of snipers on the roofs of buildings, despite the presence of army units and their rapid deployment in thearea, considered by the former frontline during the Civil War (1975-1990).

As for this spark of violence, it began after elements loyal to Hezbollah and the Amal Movement (led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri) gathered in front of the Palace of Justice to protest against Bitar and demand his removal.

Supporters of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah near Beirut Palace of Justice on October 14 (Reuters)

Supporters of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah near Beirut Palace of Justice on October 14 (Reuters)

From Thursday evening thearea of the clashes was quietly controlled, in amidst a heavy army deployment, and roadblocks have been set up for auto and means in transit. So far, the army has arrested 19 people in relation to these events.

Intimidation and violence

while accused Hizb allah And the Amal movement, “Lebanese Forces Party groups” shooting and live bullets into the heads of the protesters of their supporters, the Party of Forces confirmed that what Beirut saw and was clearly documented by the videos.

In a statement, he stressed that all media, in addition to the videos released on social, confirmed the armed appearance of “RPGs” and submachine guns, and the entrance in safe neighborhoods by Hezbollah supporters.

Members of Hezbollah and the Amal movement in Tayouneh on October 14 (AFP)

Members of Hezbollah and the Amal movement in Tayouneh on October 14 (AFP)

The Forces Party also considered that his accusation is totally rejected and aims to divert attention from the Hezbollah invasion. in this region e in other regions in earlier times. He stressed that the clashes that took place today are simply addressing justice with the same revolutionary logic, and the use of weapons, intimidation, violence and force to bring down the investigation path into the Beirut port explosion.

spearhead

Interestingly, following his accusations against the former prime minister, Hassan Diab, and former deputies and ministers, including two representatives of the Amal movement, and security officials, many fear that political pressure will lead to Bitar’s removal. similar to his predecessor Fadi Sawan, who was removed in February after his accusations against political officials. .

Several political forces criticize the course of the judicial investigation, but Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, constitute the spearhead of this position that rejects the work of the judicial investigator in case of explosion that the authorities attribute to the storage of large quantities of ammonium nitrate without protective measures. It turns out that multi-level officials were aware of the risks of keeping them.

From the riots in Beirut on October 14 (AFP)

From the riots in Beirut on October 14 (AFP)

A dispute also broke out within the government on Tuesday, with the Amal Movement and Hezbollah representatives who insisted on changing the judicial investigator, threatening to take to the streets. This happened after Bitar issued an arrest warrant in default against the former Minister of Finance and the current representative of the Amal Movement, Ali Hassan Khalil. The two sides refuse the government to hold any session unless it is dedicated to discussing the position of the forensic investigator in the blast that killed some 215 people and injured 6,500 others.

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