Interior minister assures Lebanon that security services are ready to protect citizens

Lebanon’s military and security services have increased their readiness to react and protect citizens amid a number of security developments, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said on Monday.

The Central Security Council held a meeting on Monday attended by military, security and judicial officials after a truck belonging to Hezbollah overturned in Kahale last week.

The truck was carrying ammunition and the accident led to armed clashes between Hezbollah and local residents after armed men appeared at the scene, causing the death of one Hezbollah member and a civilian from the town.

A military source told Arab News the Lebanese Armed Forces was now in charge of the ammunition, adding “if the overturned truck had caught fire, it would have caused great harm.”

The source said the fate of the ammunition shipment would depend on the military officials supervising the investigation into the incident.

The shipment might be destroyed or remain with the army, or potentially be returned to Hezbollah based on the findings of the investigation.

“Let’s leave it to the military judiciary, as through the ongoing investigation, it will determine the purpose of its use upon its transfer,” said the source.

Three days after the Kahale incident, pro-Hezbollah social media activists published a video taken in Bekaa, featuring an armored convoy supposedly belonging to Hezbollah in a sign of strength.

Close-up pictures showed the armored vehicles parked inside metal tents, including Russian and American troop carriers, tanks, heavy machinery and machine cannons.

Addressing a press conference that followed the meeting of the Central Security Council, Mawlawi said that the security personnel handled the Kahale incident in a way that protected the citizens and kept the peace.

He emphasized the pivotal role played by the security and judicial apparatuses in achieving stability in the country.

The Kahale incident is not the only event to have stirred trouble in Lebanon in recent weeks. A few days ago, a Lebanese Forces supporter was killed by unknown assailants in Ain Ebel, with Hezbollah suspected of being behind the crime, which was caught on CCTV.

The investigation into the death is ongoing, said Malawi.

The Central Security Council’s meeting also discussed the violent clashes in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain Al-Helweh, south Lebanon, two weeks ago between Fatah and extremist groups.

Mawlawi said the General Security Forces, the Lebanese Armed Forces and the follow-up committee were pursuing investigations and endeavors to control the matter and de-escalate tensions.

“We will not allow camps, especially the Ain Al-Helweh camp, to be a source of security disruption in any Lebanese region,” he added.

Mawlawi did not mention whether the council meeting discussed attempts to smuggle people across the border with Syria into Lebanon and from there onwards across the Mediterranean, though.

The army is currently intensifying measures to prevent such illegal operations, with smuggling set to increase until November due to favorable weather conditions.

The security source told Arab News: “Thirty Syrians were arrested last weekend while they were trying to enter Lebanon illegally and travel by sea through traffickers.”

The source added all those making the journey were Syrian residents and not refugees staying in Lebanon, and that more Syrians were seeking asylum in Europe through illegal smuggling networks.

In addition, the source revealed army intelligence recently shut down a major smuggling operation and arrested the Lebanese kingpin behind it, based in the northern town of Bebnine.

The operation included confiscating fishing boats in the northern border village of Al-Arida, used to take people to a larger transport vessel already at sea.

Smuggling operations were also taking place through Beirut International Airport, said the source.

On Sunday, Spanish police revealed that trafficking operations had been carried out by a criminal organization smuggling Syrian migrants from Lebanon to Spain, Germany and Norway in a scheme spanning three continents.

Commenting on the case, the security source said: “These Syrians leave Beirut airport legally and we don’t know what happens after that. The problem isn’t caused by us.”