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Lebanese Interior Minister: Security Situation Is Stable, Will Remain So

Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi. (AP)
Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi. (AP)
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Lebanese Interior Minister: Security Situation Is Stable, Will Remain So

Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi. (AP)
Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi. (AP)

Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi announced on Thursday that the security situation in the country was “still stable”, revealing that his ministry has kicked off preparations to hold municipal elections in May.

The minister met with parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, stressing that the security forces will continue to perform their duties around the clock to ensure the stability of the country.

He said he briefed Berri on the preparations to hold the elections within their constitutional and legal deadlines.

The ministry had announced the electoral lists on Wednesday.

Mawlawi acknowledged some problems encountered by the municipalities. He vowed to Berri that he will take the necessary measures to facilitate pending municipal affairs in spite of the various crises Lebanon is experiencing.

The minister later met with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abul Latif Derian, reiterating that the security situation was stable and underscoring preparations to hold the polls in May.

The Interior Ministry is committed to the law and its application, stated Mawlawi.

“All Lebanese people have the right to have municipal councils that serve them and work on addressing social affairs,” he remarked.

Moreover, he stressed that the security forces have not wavered in carrying out their duties in spite of the crippling economic crisis that has dramatically impacted the value of their salaries.

He highlighted the crimes and drug smuggling attempts that have been thwarted by the Internal Security Forces and its intelligence bureau.

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Lebanon: Mysterious Evacuation Calls Renew Fears of Israeli Strikes

A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
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Lebanon: Mysterious Evacuation Calls Renew Fears of Israeli Strikes

A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)

A wave of anonymous phone calls urging residents to evacuate buildings in southern and eastern Lebanon sparked fresh panic on Saturday over potential Israeli attacks. Though the threats later proved to be unfounded and traced to local sources, the incident unfolded amid heightened tensions and the continued presence of Israeli military aircraft in the skies above South Lebanon.

According to local media reports, Lebanese citizens in the town of Tammine in the Bekaa Valley (eastern Lebanon) received phone calls urging them to evacuate a residential building. Security forces immediately launched an investigation into the origin of the calls, while residents evacuated the building as a precaution.

After coordination with Lebanese security agencies, authorities confirmed the caller was Lebanese and the threat lacked credibility. Legal measures were initiated against the individual responsible for the hoax threat.

Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the calls were made from within Lebanese territory, and the numbers are being tracked using technical means. “We are monitoring these calls and pursuing those responsible,” a source said.

This incident is the latest in a series of similar events. Over the past few months, especially during the expanded conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, hundreds of Lebanese citizens have received anonymous calls warning of imminent strikes, spreading fear across communities.

Lebanese authorities have arrested around 20 individuals linked to these threats. Security officials noted that during periods of active conflict, Lebanon’s military intelligence identified coordinated foreign campaigns - some linked to Israel - aimed at inciting fear among the population.

“These calls were part of organized external efforts, and in some cases, the Lebanese army’s intelligence managed to trace and neutralize them by blocking digital access points used to relay such messages,” a security source explained. “They were indeed causing panic among residents.”

Residents, particularly in southern Lebanon, say they have no choice but to treat such calls seriously. Israel has occasionally issued official warnings ahead of attacks, as seen in two incidents in Beirut’s southern suburbs after a ceasefire agreement took effect. However, in other instances, Israeli aircraft have carried out strikes without warning, further fueling concern among civilians and prompting widespread caution.

Saturday’s panic was further heightened by intensified Israeli aerial activity over southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported low-flying Israeli fighter jets over the villages and towns of Tyre district, as well as over Jezzine and the eastern sector of the south.

Local activists also reported Israeli drones flying at low altitude above the Litani River basin. One drone reportedly dropped two sound bombs over the Wadi al-Asafir area in the town of Khiam.