Rioters who infiltrated the ranks of protesters demonstrating against poor living conditions in Lebanon’s second-largest city, Tripoli, had intentions of dragging the northern metropolitan into bloody clashes with security forces to force Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri to step down from forming a new Lebanese government, a source with knowledge of the matter reported.
Speaking under the conditions of anonymity, the source confirmed that the plot to get Hariri to drop government formation has been thwarted.
“Hariri will remain steadfast in his position and will not deviate from his vision of establishing a government according to the specifications set by French President Emmanuel Macron in his initiative to save Lebanon,” the source confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Stressing that the PM-designate continues to enjoy the support of former prime ministers, the source asserted that Hariri will not cave to extortion and intimidation campaigns mounted by Lebanese President Michel Aoun and his son-in-law, Gebran Bassil.
Hariri, according to the source, will no longer remain silent and is expected to make a firm stance on the upcoming 16th anniversary of his father’s assassination.
Aoun and Bassil need to seriously reevaluate their stands, the source noted, adding that the true nature of their positions has been exposed.
Despite being president, Aoun stood idle in the face of Tripoli being unraveled by poverty and made the impression that the city was not one of his priorities.
“Why do some of the heads of state insist on punishing Tripoli?” the source wondered.
Apart from being marginalized by the Aoun administration, Tripoli has faced vicious attempts for casting it in the light of a rogue city.
Nevertheless, Tripoli has a history of rising above these attempts and has shown serious compliance with state institutions.
For instance, the city had unconditionally implemented a security scheme put in motion under the government of former prime minister Tammam Salam. It successfully ended a series of violent clashes between its Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods.
