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Armed Display at a Funeral in Beirut Sparks Fears of Return to Chaos

The funeral of one of the members of the Islamic Group in Beirut, Lebanon (AP)
The funeral of one of the members of the Islamic Group in Beirut, Lebanon (AP)
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Armed Display at a Funeral in Beirut Sparks Fears of Return to Chaos

The funeral of one of the members of the Islamic Group in Beirut, Lebanon (AP)
The funeral of one of the members of the Islamic Group in Beirut, Lebanon (AP)

Armed groups appearing earlier this week in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, particularly during the funeral procession of a fallen fighter from the “Islamic Group,” have stirred concerns among residents.
Many fear a return to chaos, especially with the government’s failure to address the issue.
The Islamic Group bid farewell to three fighters who died in Lebanon’s south, accompanied by masked gunmen, interpreted by some as a show of strength.
The head of the Islamic Group Ali Abu Yassin justified the armed presence, citing the threat from the Israeli enemy.
However, Yassin assured that the Islamic Group is not parading militarily in Beirut, and the display was a reaction to the event, aimed at Israel, not the Lebanese.
“Our project has been and remains to build the state and establish genuine partnership with all Lebanese components. At this critical moment, we call for Lebanese unity in facing the Israeli enemy and its projects,” Yassin told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Beirut hasn’t seen such displays since the civil war’s end, except in 2008 when Hezbollah took military action.
Lebanese lawmaker Melhem Khalaf expressed concern, stating that armed displays indicate an unstable situation.
He stressed the need for a strong state to ensure citizens’ security. Lebanese fear a return to chaos, especially with the state’s focus on military matters in the south and anticipation of Israeli escalation.
Former Minister Rashid Derbas interpreted the armed display as a show of strength for a specific group but assured that it doesn’t mean Beirut will regress into chaos.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he emphasized that chaos is not caused by one group but by major countries if they seek to spread it.
Derbas highlighted the Lebanese army’s capability to maintain security.
Military and strategic expert Col. Khaled Hamadeh suggested the Islamic Group chose armed action under Hezbollah’s umbrella, aiming to support the resistance project.
He expressed regret over the state’s limited ability to control security, highlighting the near absence of official security in Lebanon.

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Yemen Urges End to UN Mission Overseeing Hodeidah Agreement

A group photo of UNMHA members at the time of the mission’s establishment (United Nations)
A group photo of UNMHA members at the time of the mission’s establishment (United Nations)
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Yemen Urges End to UN Mission Overseeing Hodeidah Agreement

A group photo of UNMHA members at the time of the mission’s establishment (United Nations)
A group photo of UNMHA members at the time of the mission’s establishment (United Nations)

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has called for the termination of the United Nations mission tasked with overseeing the 2018 Hodeidah Agreement, just days ahead of a UN Security Council vote on whether to extend its mandate for another six months.

The government accused the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) of legitimizing Houthi control over Red Sea ports and failing to prevent the group from exploiting the area militarily and politically.

Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said in a statement that UNMHA has “become a burden and an enabler of Houthi dominance,” offering political cover for their military presence and “blackmail” tactics.

UNMHA was established under Security Council Resolution 2452 in January 2019 to monitor the Stockholm Agreement, which included a ceasefire in the strategic port city of Hodeidah and a mutual redeployment of forces from the city and its three ports—Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa.

Six years on, Eryani said, the mission has failed to deliver any tangible results. “Not militarily, not economically, not even humanitarian-wise,” he said. “The developments on the ground have outpaced the mission.”

He called on the Security Council to end what he described as “international mismanagement” that undermines Yemen’s sovereignty and hampers efforts to restore state institutions.

Accusations of Bias and Inaction

Eryani accused the UN mission of failing to uphold the core tenets of the Stockholm Agreement. While government forces redeployed as required, he said, the Houthis refused to comply and instead reinforced their military positions, smuggled in weapons and fighters, and continued rocket launches from within the city.

Despite these violations, the minister said, UNMHA “remained silent.”

He also criticized the mission for becoming a “political shield” for the Houthis, enabling the group to consolidate military and economic control across western Yemen.

Eryani claimed that since late 2018, UNMHA has failed to monitor or verify redeployment, enforce the ceasefire, or reduce the visible armed presence in Hodeidah.

Hostage to Houthi Restrictions

In 2022, the Yemeni government formally requested that the UN relocate the mission’s headquarters to a neutral location, citing increasing Houthi restrictions.

Eryani said the Redeployment Coordination Committee - set up under the agreement -has not convened since 2020, and that the Houthis continue to occupy UNMHA offices and housing facilities, turning the mission staff into “hostages to the group’s pressure and extortion.”

The minister also criticized the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM), saying it failed to prevent weapons smuggling through the ports or to reopen roads between Hodeidah’s districts. He added that the Houthis have not transferred port revenues to the central bank for civil servant salaries as stipulated in the Stockholm Agreement.

‘War Machine Financed Under UN Watch’

Eryani accused the Houthis of using the ports to finance their war machine. Citing government estimates, he said the group collected more than $789 million in port revenues between May 2023 and June 2024 - none of which was used to pay salaries or improve public services.

Instead, he claimed, the funds were directed toward military efforts and buying loyalty, exacerbating the suffering of local populations.

He also charged that the UN mission ignored repeated Houthi violations, including missile tests from the ports and attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

“The Houthis have turned Hodeidah into a safe haven for Iranian and Hezbollah experts, a hub for assembling drones and missiles, and a corridor for arms smuggling -all under the nose of the United Nations,” Eryani said.

US Signals Support for Ending Mission

In a recent Security Council session, the United States implicitly endorsed Yemen’s position. Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea described the UN mission as “paralyzed” and said it no longer reflects the situation on the ground.

According to the Council’s agenda, members will vote on Monday at 10 a.m. New York time on a draft resolution to extend UNMHA’s mandate until January 28, 2026.

Eryani urged the international community to take “a firmer stance” and shut down the mission, arguing that it now poses an obstacle to peace efforts and prolongs the humanitarian crisis.

“The Yemenis are not the only ones paying the price for the mission’s failure,” he said. “So is the region - and the world.”