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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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Tetteh Urges All Libyans to Engage in Political Process

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh and her Deputy for Political Affairs, meet a delegation of civil society organizations from the southern region (UNSMIL)
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh and her Deputy for Political Affairs, meet a delegation of civil society organizations from the southern region (UNSMIL)
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Tetteh Urges All Libyans to Engage in Political Process

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh and her Deputy for Political Affairs, meet a delegation of civil society organizations from the southern region (UNSMIL)
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh and her Deputy for Political Affairs, meet a delegation of civil society organizations from the southern region (UNSMIL)

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh has stressed the need for all Libyans to actively participate in the political process and play a role in shaping Libya’s future.

Tetteh’s comments came shortly before her briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the North African country.

On Tuesday, the UN Special Representative and her Deputy for Political Affairs, Stephanie Koury, briefed a delegation of 28 representatives of civil society organizations from the southern region, including mayors and municipality members, on the outcomes of the Advisory Committee and the country-wide consultations led by the UN mission regarding the political process, as well as the recent meeting of the International Follow-up Committee in Berlin.

The participants told Tetteh that the ongoing institutional divisions between the east and west are negatively impacting the south.

They expressed a strong desire to see national elections through which all Libyans can choose their leaders and establish unified national institutions.

The southern delegation stressed the importance of ensuring that all cultural components have the opportunity to participate equally as citizens in the governance of the country.

Tetteh then held a meeting with the mayors of Misrata, Tarhouna, Khoms, Zliten, and Qasr al-Akhyar to discuss the options put forward by the Advisory Committee, as well as the ongoing challenges faced by municipalities across Libya.

UNSMIL stated the mayors conveyed their support for the work of the Advisory Committee and submitted a petition to Tetteh expressing their support for inclusive dialogue involving elected municipal councils and an end to the protracted transitional phases in Libya.

The mayors also stressed the need for effective administrative decentralization, and the allocation of resources to the municipalities to support adequate service delivery, and noted that the municipalities were currently underfunded.

They also voiced concerns over irresponsible public spending, which they warned poses a threat to the Libyan state, and called for the adoption of clear criteria for allocations of development funds.

They noted the importance of strengthening decentralization as a means to provide critical support for the Libyan people.

In a related development, the Chairman of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), Emad Al-Sayeh, met Monday in Tripoli with British Ambassador to Libya Martin Longden to discuss ways the UK can support Libya’s electoral process.

Longden reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to providing technical and advisory support to the HNEC, aimed at strengthening its readiness and ensuring elections are held with integrity and transparency.

Meanwhile, Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah chaired an expanded meeting on Monday to follow up on the latest developments in the implementation of the “Emmar Tripoli” (Tripoli Re/Development) program, launched by the his government, with the aim of improving infrastructure and enhancing the aesthetic and urban character of the capital.

During the meeting, Dbeibah stressed the need to overcome obstacles and accelerate the pace of work according to the approved timetables, stressing the importance of daily field follow-up to achieve the set goals.