Lebanese Forces, Future Movement's Relations Aggravated

LF chief Samir Geagea visits Former PM Saad Hariri in Jeddah, Monday, July 20, 2015. (The Daily Star/ NNA, HO)
LF chief Samir Geagea visits Former PM Saad Hariri in Jeddah, Monday, July 20, 2015. (The Daily Star/ NNA, HO)
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Lebanese Forces, Future Movement's Relations Aggravated

LF chief Samir Geagea visits Former PM Saad Hariri in Jeddah, Monday, July 20, 2015. (The Daily Star/ NNA, HO)
LF chief Samir Geagea visits Former PM Saad Hariri in Jeddah, Monday, July 20, 2015. (The Daily Star/ NNA, HO)

The current conflict between Future Movement and Lebanese Forces (LF) intensified after a period of "give and take" through back channels and unnamed sources.

The relationship deteriorated after Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation and accusations followed stating that Lebanese Forces didn't support him.

What contributed to the growing controversy was Hariri's announcement earlier this week that some political parties wanted to secure their place during this crisis by "backstabbing" allies.

Hariri threatened "to call things by their names" and "spill the beans" during a television interview before retreating and postponing the interview.

But what Hariri did not say was said by the Secretary-General of Future Movement, Ahmed Hariri, who raised several questions about the government's performance.

"We need answers," said Ahmed Hariri. His statement was not well received among the Lebanese Forces which reflected in a debate between officials and leaders in both parties and between supporters on social networks.

Lebanese Forces MP, Antoine Zahra, stressed that the statements of Ahmed Hariri are completely unacceptable, pointing out that it is shameful to direct remarks or even questions about the performance of the Forces.

"We do not owe anyone an explanation or apology, and we are only responsible before the Lebanese people," Zahra told Asharq al-Awsat.

MP Zahra said there was a national and official consensus on the outstanding and transparent performance of LF ministers, which enables them to question and not be questioned.

"Should we explain our commitment to the constitution and regulations?" wondered Zahra.

When asked whether everything is broken between LF and Future, Zahra replied: "This issue is up to Prime Minister Hariri and no one else, since we rely on what he personally says."

He went on to say that Lebanese Forces and Future Movement have agreed on one project in politics since before the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, and therefore any continuity in their political companionship will be determined upon Hariri's adherence to national principles.

A number of Future MPs preferred to wait to comment on the matter, stressing that the final word should be left to Prime Minister Hariri.

A source in the Future Movement told Asharq Al-Awsat that surely things are getting more difficult, but PM Hariri will have the last say in this.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Ghassan Hasbani stressed that Lebanese Forces has no idea what Hariri was planning to uncover, adding: "we are relying on political rationality to reach stability."

Speaking during a radio interview, Minister Hasbani stated that some were trying to create a rift, indicating that it is within the right of Lebanese Forces to question the reason behind this attack on it.

"We want to know what is the purpose of the attack [on Lebanese Forces]? Is it to divert attention away from dissociation policy?" Hasbani inquired.

Head of LF communications and media department Charles Jabbour described Ahmed Hariri's statements as "unacceptable at all".

"As far as I know, Samir Geagea did not request an appointment to meet with Hariri, and who said Geagea wanted to meet with PM Hariri?" questioned Jabbour.

Responding to Jabbour, Future Movement Media Official Abdulsalam Moussa said in a statement that Jabbour seems to have read Ahmed Hariri's statement in reverse and didn't see any positivity.

Moussa added that if Jabbour was provoked by Sec-Gen Hariri's request to clarify the previous stage, this doesn't consider previous calls for rationing the relations if they need any.

"In any case, we will consider as if Mr. Jabbour's reaction didn't happen because the relationship with LF is much deeper to be dealt with by such rhetoric," concluded Moussa.



Israeli Troops Battle Palestinian Fighters in Gaza City of Khan Younis

 Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Troops Battle Palestinian Fighters in Gaza City of Khan Younis

 Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises following Israeli strikes during an Israeli military operation, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2024. (Reuters)

Israeli troops battled Palestinian fighters in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and destroyed tunnels and other infrastructure, as they sought to suppress small militant units that have continued to hit troops with mortar fire, the military said on Friday.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said troops had killed around 100 Palestinian fighters since Israeli troops began their latest operation in Khan Younis on Monday, which continued as pressure mounted for a deal to halt the fighting.

It said seven small units that had been firing mortars at the troops were hit in an air strike, while further south, in Rafah, four fighters were also killed in air strikes.

The Islamic Jihad armed wing said it fired rockets toward the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon and other Israeli towns near Gaza. No casualties were reported, the Israeli ambulance service said.

The continued fighting, more than nine months since the start of Israel's invasion of Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack, underlined the difficulty the IDF has had in eliminating fighters who have reverted to a form of guerrilla warfare in the ruins of the coastal strip.

A Telegram channel operated by the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two main militant groups in Gaza, said fighters had been waging fierce battles with Israeli troops east of Khan Younis with machine guns, mortars and anti-tank weapons.

Medics said at least six Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in eastern Khan Younis.

US PRESSURE

US President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president, both urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a proposed ceasefire deal as soon as possible.

However there has been no clear sign of movement in talks to end the fighting and bring home some 115 Israeli and foreign hostages still being held in Gaza. Public statements from Israel and Hamas appear to indicate that serious differences remain between the two sides.

Local residents contacted by messenger app, said Israeli tanks had pushed into three towns to the east of Khan Younis, Bani Suhaila, Al-Zanna and Al-Karara and blew up several houses in some residential districts.

The military said air force jets hit around 45 targets, including tunnels and two launch pads from which rockets were fired into Beersheba in southern Israel.

Even while the fighting continued around Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, in the northern part of the enclave, Israeli tanks pushed into the Tel Al-Hawa suburb west of Gaza city, residents said.

A Hamas Telegram channel said fighters targeted an Israeli tank in Tal Al-Hawa and shot an Israeli soldier.

Medics said two Palestinians were also killed in an air strike in western Gaza city.

More than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting in Gaza, according to local health authorities, who do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants.

Israeli officials estimate that some 14,000 fighters from armed groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have been killed or taken prisoner, out of a force they estimated to number more than 25,000 at the start of the war.