Armed members of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party on Wednesday seized control of the SSNP department’s office in the Lebanese northern city of Batroun, amid a dispute between rival factions over the legitimacy of the party’s latest internal elections.
A video that went viral on social media showed armed supporters of Assaad Hardan as they stormed the office where they made statements after which the Lebanese army intervened to make them evacuate the place.
In a statement, a rival SSNP faction accused “an armed clique belonging to MP Asaad Hardan” of “storming the SSNP department’s office in the heart of the souks of the safe city of Batroun, in a behavior resembling the work of outlaw gangs.”
While Hardan made no official statement in this regard, Lebanese Forces MP Fadi Saad tweeted saying that this brings back to memory a period that was supposedly gone for good.
Saad urged the security forces, especially the Lebanese Army, to put an end to these armed incidents before the situation escalates in Batroun.
Head of Batroun District in Kataeb Samer Saade also denounced the developments in the city, saying they are the result of illegitimate arms.
In a tweet, Saade called on the SSNP to resolve its disputes outside of Batroun.
The army later announced the arrest of the armed SSNP members who entered into the Batroun office.
