Lebanon Survives Vicious Attempt to Instigate War

 Lebanese students rally in front of the Ministry of Education during ongoing anti-government protests, in the capital Beirut. (AFP)
Lebanese students rally in front of the Ministry of Education during ongoing anti-government protests, in the capital Beirut. (AFP)
TT

Lebanon Survives Vicious Attempt to Instigate War

 Lebanese students rally in front of the Ministry of Education during ongoing anti-government protests, in the capital Beirut. (AFP)
Lebanese students rally in front of the Ministry of Education during ongoing anti-government protests, in the capital Beirut. (AFP)

Lebanon survived a coordinated and systematic attempt to create sectarian divisions and the atmosphere of civil war that the Lebanese uprising, which started on October 17, has succeeded to overcome.

The attempt began on Sunday night with a number of simultaneous and anonymous statements calling for a general strike and sit-in in the squares, and even declaring the “end of the peaceful revolution.”

As the parties behind these statements could not be revealed, many linked these calls to organized attempts to stifle the people’s uprising.

A number of demonstrators responded to the call and gathered at several points, including the Ring Bridge in Beirut, Jal el Dib and Zouk, northeast of the capital.

This was followed by an influx of hundreds of young men belonging to the Shiite duo – represented by Amal Movement and Hezbollah - to the streets around the Ring Bridge, wrecking cars and shops, and writing sectarian slogans on walls, which led to widespread public discontent.

Fate intervened that night in the form of a tragedy that killed a man and a woman in a traffic accident. The Shiite duo quickly rushed to exploit it, blaming the demonstrators for the incident and accusing them of throwing stones at the victims’ car, which later proved to be a lie.

The next day, the protesters’ tents in the city of Tyre were attacked and burned by members of the same political parties, while hundreds of their supporters roamed the streets of Beirut on motorcycles, which have become a hallmark of Amal and Hezbollah partisans.

Hundreds of motorcyclists also attempted to enter the southern suburb of Ain al-Rummaneh, where they clashed with residents. On Tuesday, the same groups attacked a peaceful gathering in the city of Baalbek in the Bekaa region.

These coordinated efforts can have two objectives. The first is to revive the sectarian divide that prevailed after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 and to portend a return to civil war by attacking Christian neighborhoods. The second objective is to regain control of the Shiite street, which has started to revolt against its leaders due to the deterioration of the economic situation.

The coordinated moves also came in light of the escalating government crisis, after former Prime Minister Saad Hariri rejected the conditions set by the FPM and Hezbollah on forming a government of politicians with certain figures affiliated with the civil movement. Hariri then refrained from heading any future government.

Motorcycle convoys, sectarian chants and assault on protesters in Tyre and Baalbek sought to surround the uprising and announce its death.

However, the Shiite duo did not take into consideration the effect of the deepening economic and financial crisis on the determination of the protesters.

After warnings issued by a number of importers and traders, strikes began to reach key sectors, where workers are subject to salary cuts or the threat of dismissal under the pretext of lack of liquidity and stagnation of economic movement.

On the other hand, those who insist on keeping the current authority without radical reform do not envisage removing Lebanon from its economic predicament in a way that relieves tension among low-income groups.

By Wednesday evening, after a joint demonstration by mothers from the Shiyah and Ain al-Rummaneh areas, which witnessed some of the heaviest fighting during the civil war, it was possible to say that the recent attempt to abort the revolution had failed thanks to two factors: the pressing political and economic crisis on one hand, and the Lebanese people’s prevailing feeling of belonging to a nation and not to rival political sects.



Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
TT

Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)

Baghdad has been preoccupied this week with serious possibilities that Israel may expand its war on Gaza and Lebanon by striking several targets in Iraq in retaliation to attacks by Iran-backed armed factions.

Concern has been high that Israel may attack government buildings, oil fields and strategic locations, not just the positions of the armed factions that have previously launched attacks against Israel, said sources close to the pro-Iran ruling Coordination Framework.

Media sources have spoken of government speculation that Iraq could come under “300 Israeli attacks”.

The fears in Iraq have been compounded by an Israeli complaint to the United Nations Security Council against seven armed factions and holding Baghdad responsible for the attacks they have carried out against it.

This prompted the government, through the foreign ministry, to send an official letter to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation in response to the Israeli threats.

The ministry said on Saturday that Iraq is “the cornerstone of stability in the region and world and it is one of the countries that are most committed to the UN Charter.”

“The Zionist entity’s letter to the Security Council is part of a systematic policy aimed at creating claims and excuses in an attempt to expand the conflict in the region.”

It said Iraq has turned to the Security Council out of Iraq’s keenness on the international body carrying out its duty in maintaining international peace and security and the need to rein in the “Zionist aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.”

Moreover, it stressed that Iraq has been keen on exercising restraint when it comes to the use of its airspace to attack a neighboring country.

Israel has used Iraqi airspace to launch attacks against Iran in October.

Iraq underscored the importance of the international community stepping in to “stop this hostile behavior that is a flagrant violation of international law.”

It called for international efforts to stop the Israeli escalation in the region and ensure that international laws and treaties are respected to consolidate security and stability.

Meanwhile, a source close to the Coordination Framework said the main Shiite parties are taking the Israeli threats “very seriously”, urging Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government to take “all the necessary measures to avert a potential Israeli strike.”

All leaders of armed factions, as well as Shiite leaders, have taken up alternative locations and are moving under great secrecy, confirming that they have changed the majority of their military positions, said the source.

It also dismissed claims that Israeli jets have overflown Iraq, saying nothing has been confirmed, but not ruling out the possibility, especially since US forces have control over Iraqi skies and Iraq is helpless against stopping these violations.

Iraq had submitted a formal complaint to the UN and Security Council over Israel’s use and violation of its airspace to attack Iran.

Analyst and former diplomat Ghazi Faisal said the pro-Iran armed factions have been gathering their forces in the Sinjar province, which is strategic for Iran’s arms deliveries and logistic support to Syria where attacks can be carried out against American forces and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Sinjar is one of the most important strategic bases for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, he added.

Furthermore, he noted that the armed factions insist on continuing the war against Israel, rejecting government calls for calm and neutrality.

The government’s statements are aimed at delivering a message that it “is not directly responsible for the strategy of these factions,” which follow Iran’s policies.

Iraq has repeatedly said that it refuses for its territory to be used to attack another country, but some observers believe that it may allow Iran to do so should Israel strike.