The chances of the wave of assassinations hitting Lebanon once again left politicians with ever-growing fear amidst a fragile security state in the Middle East republic.
Despite security alertness and cooperation being raised to praiseworthy levels, the disrupted political reality weakens reassurances made by security bodies and the overwhelming support world states gave to ensure Lebanon’s stability.
Local media reported that security forces have arrested on November 9 an Israeli spy in Sidon who admitted to being tasked with assassinating MP Bahia Hariri. It is worth noting that only a few days before making the arrest, security forces had announced thwarting an assassination attempt on November 5.
On the other hand, Lebanon’s interior ministry refuted claims around making an arrest against a plotter tracking down Hariri’s convoy.
Instead, the ministry said that circulating false news might give rise to unnecessary tensions that inch in the country closer to civilian strife.
In a move to consolidate civil peace, the interior ministry addressed media outlets demanding that sources for published material be restricted to official statements issued by concerned authorities.
Lebanese Future Movement politician and a former MP Mustapha Allouch believes that assassinations usually carried out in correlation to personal gains by conspirers.
“Political strain and the current atmosphere do not indicate whether an assassination would serve the perpetrating party or not,” Allouch told Asharq Al Awsat.
Allouch reaffirmed that no physical evidence or intelligence indicate to a threat of the sort for the time being.
“We fear the return of assassinations but have no hard evidence or intelligence as to whether another wave will sweep over,” added Allouch.
Security and military Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Lebanese national army hand-in-hand with security divisions are working relentlessly to advance needed measures, regardless of how demanding they get.
All of which falls under a full-fledged guarantee of fighting against any exploitation of current events to shake up national stability.
