Arab Spring comes to Lebanon

Syrian unrest continues to have a major impact on the political situation in neighboring Lebanon. The danger of a civil war in Lebanon is increasing every day. After October 19, when head of Lebanon's General Intelligence Wissam al-Hassan was killed, street riots broke out in Beirut, and the army has deployed additional forces in the capital.

Arab Spring comes to Lebanon. 48353.jpeg

The main task of the military is not to allow the chaos spread across the country. The opposition leader Saad Hariri urged the demonstrators to return to their homes. However, the hopes for a lasting peace in Lebanon are becoming more elusive. After the murder of Hassan in the capital, another surge of anti-Syrian sentiment was observed. The Sunni opposition accused the regime of Bashar al-Assad of organizing a terrorist attack in Beirut.

The riots began during a mass meeting in the capital on October 21. Ex-prime minister Fouad Siniora, who is heading the opposition party "Al-Mustaqbal," gave a fiery speech before the protesters. He blamed the government of Mikati for the events that preceded the attack that killed 10 people. "We cannot continue to cover up the crime, so Najib Mikati must resign." This statement was made by Fouad Siniora in front of the demonstrators.

When his speech was over, a few people in the crowd started calling for an attack on the government residence. Police used batons and tear gas against the demonstrators who stormed the building. That clash with security forces was not particularly bloody, but subsequent events have resulted in deaths. In the Lebanese city of Tripoli numerous shootings erupted. According to local media, a 9-year-old girl was killed by a sniper's shot. On Monday, October 22, and early morning of October 23, clashes continued. As of October 23, seven people were killed in the riots, the International French radio (RFI) reported.

Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon in 2005. Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was against the presence of Syrian troops in the country. Shortly after his death, the "Cedar Revolution" began. Mass protests influenced the decision of Damascus to bring its soldiers home. However, the Assad regime continued to support "Hezbollah". "March 14 Coalition" was formed shortly after the assassination of Rafik Hariri and continued to struggle against the strengthening of the Syrian influence in the country over the years. However, the "Hezbollah" only strengthened its position in the south of the country after the Second Lebanon War (July-August 2006).

All those years an uneasy truce was maintained on the northern border of Israel. Recently insurgents of "Hezbollah" had launched a UAV that was in Israeli airspace for some time until it was shot down by IDF Air Force fighters. The Netanyahu government has refrained from military involvement in the events in Syria and Lebanon. Today, the opposition continues to insist on the removal from power of Najib Mikati, who is considered a protégé of Shiite terrorist organization "Hezbollah."

The supporters of the "March 14 Coalition" accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of destabilizing the situation in the country. Alawite and Shiite groups openly supported the official Damascus. Analysts say that the Syrian track is very obvious in today's events in the country. The government considers the actions of the "March 14 Coalition" an attempt to regain power at any cost. It is not clear whether the military will be able to restore order in the country in a short time. The current reports from Lebanon are a constant reminder of the events in neighboring Syria. Radical Islamists provoke clashes between Sunni and Alawite in Beirut and Tripoli, which can lead to a further aggravation of the conflict. Barricades appear on the roads, and the fights between various armed groups do not stop.

Under these circumstances, the moderate opposition led by Rafik Hariri is trying to save face, refusing to participate in riots, and insisting on the peaceful regime change. Meanwhile, the current political crisis caused by the assassination of Wissam al-Hassan nearly led to the resignation of the government. On October 20, head of the Cabinet Najib Mikati filed his resignation letter with the president. However, Suleiman did not accept the resignation. Beirut decided that the resignation of the Cabinet was not the best solution in the situation of political instability, when the confrontation between the supporters and opponents of the regime of Bashar al-Assad is getting stronger.

Yury Sosinsky-Semikhat

Pravda.Ru 

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