BEIRUT: Lebanon on Friday mourned seven people killed in gunbattles in the streets of Beirut the previous day. The confrontation erupted over a long-running probe into last year’s massive port blast in the city and raised fears of the country being drawn into further violence.
Underlying the violence are Lebanon’s entrenched sectarian divides and growing pushback against the port investigation by the two main Shiite Muslim parties, the powerful Hezbollah militant group and its allied Amal Movement.
Schools, banks and government offices across Lebanon shut down for a day of mourning Friday, while funerals were held in several parts of the country.
At a cemetery in a southern suburb of Beirut, Hezbollah members in military uniforms paid their respects, standing before three coffins draped with the group’s yellow flag and covered with white roses. Senior Hezbollah officials were present. Hundreds of women, dressed in black robes, also attended the funeral.
At a separate funeral for an Amal fighter, also in southern Beirut, gunmen opened fire in the air for several minutes.
Thursday’s clashes saw gunmen battling each other for several hours with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades in the streets of Beirut. It was the most violent confrontation in the city in years, echoing the nation’s darkest era of the 1975-90 civil war.
The firefight raised the specter of a return to sectarian violence in a country already struggling through one of the world’s worst economic crises of the past 150 years.
The violence broke out at a protest organized by Hezbollah and Amal which called for the removal of the lead judge investigating last year’s massive explosion at Beirut port. Officials from both parties have suggested the judge’s investigation is heading toward holding them responsible for the blast, which killed at least 215 people.
Many of the protesters on Thursday had been armed.
Ali Haidar, a 23-year-old Shiite who took part in the protest, said nearby residents first started throwing rocks, bottles and furniture, before snipers on rooftops opened fire on the protesters from two directions, leaving people stuck in the middle.
“Then everyone started defending their neighborhood,” he said.
It was not clear who fired the first shot, but the confrontation quickly devolved into heavy exchanges of gunfire along a former civil war front line separating predominantly Muslim and Christian areas of Beirut.
The two Shiite groups accused the Christian Lebanese Forces party of starting the shooting. The Lebanese Forces party denied the charges.
The death toll rose to seven of Friday, after an man succumbed to his injuries, the Health Ministry said. The dead included two fighters from Hezbollah and three from Amal.
Residents in the Tayouneh area of Beirut, where most of the fighting played out, swept glass from the streets in front of shops and apartment buildings. Soldiers in armored personnel carriers deployed on the streets, and barbed wire was erected at some street entrances. Several cars were still parked in the area, damaged in Thursday’s firefight.
Tayouneh has a huge roundabout that separates Christian and Muslim neighborhoods. Newly pockmarked buildings off the roundabout sat next to the ones scarred from the days of the civil war.
One of those killed in the neighborhood was identified as Mariam Farhat, a mother of five. She was shot by a sniper bullet as she sat near the door of the balcony of her second floor apartment, her family said Friday.
“We started screaming, she was taken on a stretcher but did not reach the hospital,” said Munira Hamdar, Farhat’s mother-in-law. She said Farhat’s youngest daughter does not know that her mother was killed, and has been staying with her maternal aunt since Thursday.
Farhat was laid to rest Friday, along with the two Hezbollah fighters, in the Hezbollah ceremony in south Beirut. Her casket also draped with a Hezbollah flag.
Tensions over the port blast have contributed to Lebanon’s many troubles, including a currency collapse, hyperinflation, soaring poverty and an energy crisis leading to extended electricity blackouts.
The probe centers on hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate that were improperly stored at a port warehouse that detonated on Aug. 4, 2020. The blast killed at least 215 people, injured thousands and destroyed parts of nearby neighborhoods. It was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history and further devastated the country already beset with political divisions and financial woes.
Judge Tarek Bitar has charged and issued an arrest warrant for Lebanon’s former finance minister, who is a senior member of Amal and a close ally of Hezbollah. Bitar also charged three other former senior government officials with intentional killing and negligence that led to the blast.
Officials from both Shiite parties, as well as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, had attacked Bitar for days, accusing him of politicizing the investigation by charging and summoning some officials and not others.
A senior Hezbollah official, Mohammed Daamoush, said in a sermon during Friday prayers that the group will keep pushing to get Bitar removed and “return the port investigation on its right track.” He did not elaborate but analysts close to Hezbollah said they expect Shiite Cabinet ministers and some of their allies to boycott Cabinet meetings.
No Hezbollah officials have so far been charged in the 14-month investigation.
Bitar is the second judge to lead the complicated investigation. His predecessor was removed following legal challenges.
Lebanese hold funerals for 7 killed in Beirut gunbattles
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Lebanese hold funerals for 7 killed in Beirut gunbattles
- Schools, banks and government offices across Lebanon shut down for a day of mourning Friday, while funerals were held in several parts of the country
- Mariam Farhat, a mother of five, was shot by a sniper bullet as she sat near the door of the balcony of her second floor apartment
Lebanese PM says there is no threat of a return to war if no timetable is set for ‘limiting weapons’
Lebanese PM says there is no threat of a return to war if no timetable is set for ‘limiting weapons’
- Comment follows reports from Western security agencies that Hezbollah is transporting weapons from Iran by sea, and a recent visit from US envoy Morgan Ortagus
- The prime minister’s office says ‘Lebanon is committed to all security measures to protect the Port of Beirut’ and the city’s airport
BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday he has not received “any threat, neither from the Deputy US Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus nor from anyone else, regarding the possibility of a return to war if the government does not set a timetable for limiting weapons.”
A source in the prime minister’s office told Arab News: “Lebanon is committed to all security measures to protect the Port of Beirut, as well as the airport, and we have not received any information indicating complaints in this regard.” The government has “a clear security plan to protect its vital facilities,” the source added.
On Tuesday, news channel Al-Hadath said reports by Western security agencies suggested “Hezbollah has begun using the sea to transport weapons from Iran, following air restrictions and the collapse of Syrian regime control. The Port of Beirut is considered the focal point for this activity, with Hezbollah operating freely through collaborators in customs and oversight mechanisms.”
Salam said: “The constitution, which is based on the Taif Agreement, stipulates the extension of state authority over all its territory through its own forces. All ministers are committed to this matter.
“A ministerial statement also affirmed the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of the state, and all ministers are committed to that. The matter of war and peace lies solely in the hands of the state.”
Salam was speaking after a meeting on Wednesday with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi at the latter’s office in Bkerke, during which he briefed the religious leader on the outcomes of his meeting with Ortagus last week.
In his comments following the meeting, the prime minister also emphasized the “urgent need for Israel to withdraw from the five occupied points” in Lebanon “as they hold no military, security or strategic value.
“We are currently in an era dominated by technology, satellites and surveillance, and military aircraft. Unfortunately, there are also networks of spies on the ground, which we have reiterated, particularly to Ortagus. This is a matter we are actively pursuing.”
Also on Wednesday, Lebanon’s public works and transportation minister, Fayez Rassamni, toured the Port of Beirut and met representatives of the security agencies operating there. In response to the reports of weapons passing through the port, he said: “Operations at the port are proceeding with the same intensity as those at the airport, and security here is firmly under control. We will not allow anyone to cast doubt, and if there is any information please provide us with evidence.”
Omar Itani, chairperson of the board and general manager of the port, said: “The port management does not have the authority to inspect the nature or content of the goods arriving at the port. Their role is limited to facilitating and overseeing logistics.
“Inspections and audits are conducted in coordination with the customs administration, the Lebanese army, and other security agencies present within the port, as part of a unified regulatory system aimed at preventing any potential violations. In recent years, these procedures have been significantly strengthened, particularly by the Lebanese army, to ensure that no infractions or smuggling occur.
“An agreement has been reached to enhance oversight and update equipment, including the introduction of modern scanning devices similar to those used in international ports. This initiative aims not only to bolster security but also to facilitate export activities, especially towards Gulf and European countries, thereby benefiting farmers and production sectors while increasing state revenues.”
Iranian airlines continue to be denied landing permits at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut following Israeli allegations that Tehran was using them to deliver funds and weapons to Hezbollah.
Ortagus, the US envoy, visited Lebanon last weekend and held meetings with a wide range of politicians and economists in what was described as a constructive atmosphere. She also toured the National Museum in Beirut.
After leaving the capital, however, she raised her tone and in a series of statements since the start of the week has stressed that Hezbollah must be fully disarmed. She said the group “is like a cancer and Lebanon must eradicate it if it is to recover.”
During an interview with Sky News, she accused Iran of “dragging the Middle East into a perilous new phase of instability.” She said that “the Lebanese army, with its current capabilities, is able to disarm Hezbollah” and “disarming Hezbollah is part of President Donald Trump’s maximum-pressure policy on Iran.”
Ortagus added: “The only way for Lebanon to emerge from its crisis is to reject any role for Iran and its allies, and the US has optimistic expectations regarding Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s role in the next phase.
“We expect reforms in Lebanon but the Trump administration’s patience has limits. We want the Lebanese to feel safe when depositing their money in banks. I informed Lebanese officials not to count on the World Bank meeting without the approval of reforms by parliament. Lebanese officials must show the World Bank that they are serious, not just talking.”
Meanwhile, a new Israeli violation of Lebanese sovereignty was reported when Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike deep inside the country. The target was a residential building between the towns of Aadous and Hosh Tal Safiya in the Baalbek region of the eastern Bekaa. The strike was preceded by a warning raid that gave the Syrian residents time to evacuate the building.
Queen Rania of Jordan addresses Gaza’s humanitarian crisis with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni
- Queen Rania emphasized the severe shortage of food, medical supplies and shelter in Gaza
- Queen Rania and Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed the strong ties between Rome and Amman
LONDON: Queen Rania of Jordan addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday, during her brief visit to the country.
Meloni hosted Queen Rania at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome, where they discussed the humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli military actions in Gaza, the official Petra agency reported.
Queen Rania emphasized the severe shortage of food, medical supplies and shelter following the Israeli suspension of aid relief deliveries to Gaza. She highlighted the increasing orphan crisis in Gaza, where more than 39,000 Palestinian children have lost one or both parents since October 2023.
Queen Rania and Meloni reaffirmed the strong ties between Rome and Amman. They highlighted the significance of educational projects and family protection initiatives in Jordan, which the Italian Development Cooperation supports.
US energy secretary to visit the UAE on first international trip
- Chris Wright’s visit to Abu Dhabi follows agreement on several deals between the US, UAE in March
- Wright to meet ministers, senior investment leaders to discuss accelerating bilateral trade
LONDON: The US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is visiting the UAE this week on his first international trip.
Wright’s visit to Abu Dhabi follows agreement on several deals between the US and the UAE in March, totaling $1.4 trillion in investments across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.
His discussions with senior UAE ministers and officials will focus on enhancing collaboration to drive sustainable economic growth and energy innovation in both countries, the Emirates News Agency reported.
Among those meeting Wright are Suhail Mohamed Al-Mazrouei, the minister of energy and infrastructure; Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, the minister of industry and advanced technology; Yousef Al-Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to the US; and Martina Strong, US ambassador to the UAE.
Wright will also meet senior leaders in the energy, AI, and investment sectors in the UAE to discuss technological collaboration, accelerating bilateral trade, and strengthening joint investment initiatives, WAM added.
Al-Jaber said that Wright’s visit “reflects the strength and depth of the UAE-US strategic relationship and our shared commitment to energy security, economic growth, and technological advancement.”
He added: “As we look to the future, we see vast opportunities to deepen collaboration across energy, infrastructure, AI, and industry — anchored in the pro-growth, pro-investment, and pro-people approach that both our nations champion.”
Wright said that the US and the UAE will continue discussions to strengthen their strategic relationship and support recent UAE investments in the US while promoting global energy security.
Wright and Al-Jaber are to co-host a Future Energy Leaders Majlis during the visit, and have invited Emirati and American youth leaders, some Ivy League alumni, and representatives from the US Department of Energy and the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
The UAE is expanding its energy presence in the US through strategic investments in hydrogen, renewables, LNG (liquefied natural gas), and chemicals, which include partnerships with ExxonMobil and NextDecade, WAM added.
OIC condemns Israeli decision to close 6 UNRWA schools in Jerusalem
- OIC said Israel’s decision is an illegal attempt to undermine the UN agency’s role in Jerusalem
- Israeli authorities notified 6 UNRWA schools that they will be closed within 30 days
LONDON: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the Israeli authorities’ decision to close six schools of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in Jerusalem.
The OIC condemned Israel’s decision as an illegal attempt to undermine the UN agency’s role in the occupied city, calling it a blatant violation of the UN Charter and Resolution 302 (IV), which established the agency’s mandate in December 1949.
In 2024, Israel passed a law that prohibits the operations of UNRWA in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have resulted in the demolition or damage of numerous UNRWA schools and health centers.
On Tuesday, Israeli authorities notified six UNRWA schools in Jerusalem’s neighborhoods of Shuafat, Silwan, Sur Baher, and Wadi Al-Joz that they will be closed within 30 days.
The OIC said the decision would deprive Palestinian refugee children of their fundamental right to education and seek instead to impose the Israeli curriculum on them.
The OIC urged all states to support UNRWA with political, financial, and legal assistance to continue serving millions of Palestinian refugees and protecting their rights, as outlined in UN Resolution 194, the Wafa news agency reported.
UN: Almost 7.7 million in South Sudan face ‘crisis’ hunger levels
- The deeply impoverished nation has battled instability and insecurity since independence in 2011
- Violence between forces allied to the president and his deputy further threatens to destabilize the country
JUBA: Almost 7.7 million people in South Sudan face crisis levels of hunger, the United Nations said Wednesday, many located in the country’s restive northeast rocked by recent clashes.
The deeply impoverished nation has battled instability and insecurity since independence in 2011, with violence between forces allied to the president and his deputy further threatening to destabilize the country.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement Wednesday that 7.7 million people face the third-highest category of need – defined as “crisis, emergency, or catastrophic.”
“This is close to record highs,” the statement said.
Around 63,000 people were defined as of the highest need and 2.53 million the category below, most located in the northeastern Upper Nile State region, a spokesperson said.
That part of the country is enduring an uptick in violence as forces allied to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar clash.
Machar is currently under house arrest in capital Juba, leaving his party to appoint Stephen Par Kuol as interim leader.
The WFP said the Upper Nile region was the “most impacted by the escalation of conflict,” with one million people facing “high levels of hunger.”
“There is no shelter at all and there is scarcity of food,” Reath Yian Ulang, 32, said from Ulang county in Upper Nile State.
“We used to rely on food brought by traders from Ethiopia but because of the current crisis the traders have all fled back to Ethiopia in fear,” the father-of-four said by phone.
“People now drink water from the swamps.”
The agency also said efforts to get life-saving assistance to those in the direst need was being hampered by the violence.
“Insecurity has forced WFP to pause distributions in six counties in the region for the safety of our staff, partners and the people we serve,” it said.
Additionally, more than 1.1 million people have fled to South Sudan since the start of the two-year civil war in Sudan – most arriving in the Upper Nile region – and almost half are facing “catastrophic” levels of hunger, WFP added in the statement.
South Sudan is also grappling with a cholera outbreak, with UNICEF saying roughly 40,000 cases have been reported since September including almost 700 deaths – with children disproportionately affected.
The United States’ decision to slash international aid has also impacted the country, with humanitarian workers warning children were dying as a result of remote facilities being closed.
