By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East
BEIRUT, Lebanon – On May 10, Lebanon’s army overturned two government measures in an attempt to diffuse escalating tensions between Hezbollah opposition and the Lebanese government. Following two key decisions on May 5, Hezbollah and other Shia opposition groups called for general strikes, which quickly resulted in armed confrontations between the opposition and pro-government supporters.
On May 5, the Lebanese government, led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Sunni majority leader Saad Hariri, issued two decisions sparked the opposition’s anger. First, the cabinet removed Beirut’s airport security chief for alleged ties to the militants. Second, the cabinet also determined that Hezbollah’s communication network, including its own telephone system, was illegal and threatened Lebanese sovereignty.
Following the government’s decision Hezbollah’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, called for general strikes in protest. Shia opposition members set up road block on all major roads leading to Beirut’s airport and well as major roads within and around Beirut.
On May 8, Nasrallah stated that the government’s decisions were a declaration of war against Hezbollah. Following this public statement, street violence between armed members of the Shia opposition group and pro-government supporters broke out in Beirut. As of May 10, the violence has resulted in at least 25 deaths and dozens of injuries.
Most recently, on the morning of May 10, two people were killed when gunmen targeted a funeral procession for a Sunni, pro-government supporter. Also, according to Reuters, five gunmen and two soldiers died in clashes in northern Lebanon.
On May 9, Shia opposition fighters launched a rocket-propelled grenade at the outer perimeter of Hariri’s home in west Beirut. While Hariri was at home, he was not harmed. Also on May 9, opposition gunmen forced Future News TV, owned by Hariri, off air. Following a warning from the gunmen, security forces evacuated station employees.
Opposition forces also took over the offices of Hariri’s Al-Mustaqbal newspaper. According to the paper’s managing editor, gunmen fired on the office with guns and rocket-propelled grenades, and later set fire to one of the floors.
Prime Minister Siniora responded to the recent violence in a public statement on May 10. He accused Hezbollah of carrying out an “armed coup.” In addressing the army, Siniora said, “I call on it once again to impose security on all, in all areas, deter the gunmen and immediately remove them from the street … to restore normal life.”
Rula Amin, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut, said that Siniora had described Beirut as being “occupied” and “besieged;” an attempt to appeal to Lebanese inside and outside the country, as well as the mostly Sunni population in the Arab world.
Pro-government supporters accuse Iran and Syria of supporting Hezbollah and of approving their take over of Beirut. Iran accuses US and Israeli interference in creating tensions that led to current crisis. Syria and Israel both state that the crisis is an “internal affair.”
The violence has led Saudi Arabia and Egypt to call for an emergency meeting of the Arab League to discuss the political crisis. This meeting is scheduled for May 11.
For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Lebanon PM Calls for Action by Army – 10 May 2008
Al Jazeera – Who’s Who in Lebanese Politics – 10 May 2008
Associate Press – Lebanese Prime Minister Accuses Hezbollah of ‘Armed Coup’ – 10 May 2008
BBC – Lebanon Army Moves to End Crisis – 10 May 2008
Herald Sun – Militants Attack a Top MP – 10 May 2008
International Herald Tribune – Lebanese Chief Calls on Army to Restore Order – 10 May 2008
Reuters – Hezbollah Fights Start Withdrawing from Beirut – 10 May 2008
Al Jazeera – Timeline: Crisis in Lebanon – 9 May 2008
BBC – Cabinet Condemns Hezbollah ‘Coup’ – 9 May 2008
