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Perspectives: Lebanon and Hezbollah
October 26, 2018
Perspectives: Lebanon and
Hezbollah is a UANI weekly resource
highlighting developments in Lebanon and the activities of the
terrorist group Hezbollah.
Cabinet Formation
U.S. Warns Lebanon That
Hezbollah Cabinet Pick Would Cross 'Red Line'
Al-Monitor reported
that the Donald Trump administration has privately informed Lebanese
officials that giving Hezbollah the Health Ministry is a "red
line" as far as the U.S. is concerned, but has not specified
which punitive measures Washington would take against Beirut in
response. The report in Al-Monitor was preceded in early
September by a similar report
in Asharq Al-Awsat quoting Lebanese sources saying that
the U.S. had placed a
de facto "veto" on
increasing Hezbollah's share in the Lebanese cabinet, or granting it
a more important Ministry. That report claimed the U.S.
"veto" was holding up the formation of a new cabinet.
Lebanese Cabinet Formation Faces New Hurdles
Lebanese government formation talks appear to have taken
a negative turn over the weekend, dampening expectations after last
week's progress and optimistic estimation that a cabinet would be
formed by Monday. The main source of tension appears to be between
the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Lebanese Forces (LF) party over
the Justice Ministry.
LF is insisting on receiving the Justice Ministry, with
party sources telling
Al-Joumhouria that they would only concede it for an equally
important portfolio. LF MP Wehbe Qatisha explained
to An-Nahar that LF had not initially demanded the Justice
portfolio, but that prime minister Saad Hariri and president Michel
Aoun had offered it to them instead of a "sovereignty
portfolio." (LF's
Melhem Riachy reiterated this claim during an interview on MTV Lebanon's "It's About Time.") Qatisha
said LF accepted the offer because it felt it could strengthen the
State's sovereignty through the Justice Ministry, but that the offer
was "suddenly" withdrawn by Aoun and FPM. Aoun - supported
by the FPM - is insisting
that the Justice portfolio be part of the so-called "president's
share" of cabinet seats. Though Aoun
and LF
have stated they are through making concessions to one another - OTV's
sources claimed
Hariri told his Future Movement MPs that he had a solution to the
Justice Ministry impasse.
Another hurdle
to forming a government is Hezbollah's insistence on the
representation of anti-Hariri "Independent Sunni" MPs in
the upcoming cabinet. According
to Al-Joumhouria, Hezbollah is guaranteeing to the
"Independent Sunnis" that they will be included in the
cabinet, and will not allow a government to form otherwise.
Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah raised the issue in
his most recent speech, echoing an earlier call to Hariri by
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, "not to ignore this
matter." Nasrallah's statement notwithstanding, Hezbollah
sources told Al-Joumhouria
that their efforts to ensure the inclusion of the "Independent
Sunnis" in the upcoming cabinet are being carried out largely
behind the scenes and out of the public eye.
Hariri responded sharply, denying that a Sunni
representation hurdle even existed.
He stressed that he would not concede any of his Future Movement's
cabinet seats to "Independent Sunni" MPs, saying that the
parties supporting their inclusion in the government should grant
them seats from their own shares. In fact, Al-Joumhouria reported
rumors that Faisal Karameh - one of the "Independent Sunni"
MPs - would be given a cabinet seat from Aoun's "presidential
share." Karameh, for his part, told An-Nahar
that he would not object to receiving a seat for himself or other
"Independent Sunnis" from the president's cabinet share if
it would end the deadlock. Days later, however, the "Independent
Sunnis" issued a statement
rejecting any compromise on "their independent representation
based on their popular support."
Despite these remaining hurdles, a "high-ranking
source" reportedly told
Al-Joumhouria that a government would still be formed
"before the end of this month."
Hezbollah
Transnationally
Trump Signs New Sanctions Law Against Hezbollah
CNN reported
that President Donald Trump signed into law new sanctions on
Hezbollah Thursday, targeting the group's funding. The legislation,
known as the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments
Act - or HIFPA II - ramps up reporting requirements and places
further financial and economic sanctions on the group.
Hezbollah, Iran Surreptitiously Reenter Southern Syria
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SORHR) reported
that there are indications Hezbollah and Iran have reentered southern
Syria, months after announcing their withdrawal from the area.
According to SOHR's sources, Hezbollah and Iran are using
administrative and intelligence covers to reenter areas near the
border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and along the
Syrian-Jordanian border. Hezbollah and Iran are hiring individuals
and providing them with lucrative salaries in exchange for acting as
their cells, providing them with intel, and helping them impose their
influence in southern Syria.
The information indicates that Hezbollah is establishing
cells in the area and that more than 1,600 individuals have joined
the group as a result of its outreach efforts in the region. These
sources also claimed that Hezbollah and Iran have established
offices, centers, and Shiite shrines throughout southern Syria, in
Sayda, Kahil, Sheikh Meskin, and in the city of Daraa and its
countryside. Hezbollah is allegedly also using these regional affiliates
to assert its control over the recently reopened Nasib crossing, on
the Syrian-Jordanian border.
In related news, Israel Hayom reported
that, in recent weeks, Hezbollah has begun reestablishing its
military infrastructure in the Syrian Druze village of Hader - 3.5 km
away from the fence with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - under
the guidance of Mustafa Mughniyeh, the son of Hezbollah's late
commander Imad. According to the Israelis, Hezbollah activity in
the village is currently limited to observation and monitoring by a
local activist, equipped and mobilized by Hezbollah, and who reports
to the group. Israel recently warned that Hezbollah would attempt to
exploit the situation in southern Syria to establish a new front in
the Golan Heights in three stages: 1) Establishing its presence and
gathering intelligence; 2) transfer of weapons and military equipment
and; 3) carrying out attacks.
Hezbollah Loses Three Fighters in Action in Syria
Hezbollah announced the death of two of its commanders
in Syria on Monday through its media outlet ArabiPress. The
two commanders are Mohammad
Mahmoud Zaydan, a.k.a. "Murtada," from the south
Lebanon village of Jibchit, and Mohammad
Said Said, aka "Samir Ahmad," from south Lebanon's
al-Qseibeh. A report
by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights seemed to indicate that
the two were killed in northeast of Homs by an IED planted by ISIS.
Two days later, ArabiPress announced the death of another
Hezbollah fighter, Imad Skaff - the brother of another fallen
Hezbollah fighter, Jamil Skaff - in battle in Syria.
Russian Delegation Meets with Hezbollah, IRGC in Syria
SMART News Agency reported
that a Russian delegation met with Hezbollah and IRGC commanders in
Eastern Syria to discuss implementing a cooperation mechanism in the
region. The Russian delegation met with the Hezbollah commanders at
their security HQ in Syria's Alboukamal on Monday. The meeting
occurred at the house of an individual named Mohammad al-Ayesh, which
Hezbollah seized and transformed into a military HQ. The Russians
later visited the IRGC's HQ near the village of al-Harri, on the
Syrian-Iraqi border, with the IRGC commander in Alboukamal - known as
'al-Hajj Suleiman' - attending.
Hezbollah
and Israel
Israel Uncovers Hezbollah Post Near Lebanon Border
Haaretz and Maariv reported
that Israel claims to have uncovered
an observation post established by Hezbollah in the village of
Al-Adaysseh, 1 km away from the Israeli-Lebanese border, in violation
of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The Resolution, which calls
for "the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani
river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons
other than those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL,"
implicitly prohibits Hezbollah from operating in south Lebanon. The
Adaysseh position - the sixth identified by Israel - was established
under the guise of operating under "Green Without Borders,"
an environmental NGO under the group's control. In a series of tweets
on October 22 and 23, the IDF's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee -
in his typical taunting
and acerbic
fashion - also highlighted
Hezbollah's activities
along the Lebanese-Israeli border under
the NGO's guise, and posted a map
of the Hezbollah observation posts discovered to date.
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti responded to
Israel's claims, saying that the peacekeeping force had not observed
any unauthorized armed personnel operating in the area, or any
violation of Resolution 1701 by "Green Without Borders" or
anyone else.
Israel is Planning to Purchase V-22 Osprey Helicopters
to Combat Hezbollah
Walla! News reported
that in recent months, the Israel Air Force (IAF) approved a plan to
purchase V-22 Ospreys in light of the threat that Hezbollah will
target and disable Israeli airbases and runways with "accurate
missiles and rockets." The plan is awaiting the IDF Chief of
Staff's approval.
Lebanon
Foreign Relations
Aoun Denies Presence of Hezbollah Rocket Conversion
Sites in Beirut
During a meeting
with
UNIFIL Commander Major General Stefano Del Col at the Baabda
Presidential Palace, Lebanese President Michel Aoun once again denied
Israel's claims that Hezbollah had built missile conversion sites in
the vicinity of Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport. Aoun
also attacked Israel for what he claimed was Jerusalem's refusal to
demarcate its maritime borders with Lebanon, this despite the fact
that Lebanon has refused to demarcate its southern land border with
Israel since the IDF's May 2000 withdrawal from south Lebanon.
Hariri Supports Saudi Arabia's Investigation into
Khashoggi's Death
Al-Joumhouria reports that
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri expressed his support of Saudi
Arabia's investigation into Jamal Khashoggi's murder. Hariri said
that "the procedures being undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia regarding the matter of the journalist Jamal al-Khashoggi, may
he rest in peace, serve the interests of justice and revealing the
whole truth."
Russia to Begin Initiative to Repatriate Syrian Refugees
in Lebanon Soon
Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin told
political interlocutors that Moscow's initiative to repatriate Syrian
refugees in Lebanon was ongoing "and would take effect
soon." Zasypkin also called on the Lebanese state to take
advantage of this initiative by dealing with it seriously, and giving
the tripartite committee formed to handle the return of Syrian
refugees the necessary authorities to act.
Hariri Visits Saudi Arabia to Participate in Saudi
Economic Summit
Prime Minister Saad Hariri traveled
to Saudi Arabia to participate in the global investment forum in
Riyadh. Jointly addressing the conference with Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammad bin Salman, Hariri promised
to form a Lebanese national unity government that would seek to
restore the citizenry's confidence in the State and implement the
reforms required by the CEDRE conference. Hariri also held talks
on Wednesday with King Salman. Sources in Hariri's Bayt al-Wasat HQ told
Al-Joumhouria that the prime minister extended his trip to
Saudi Arabia in order to discuss the situation in Lebanon with the
Kingdom's officials. Hariri returned to Lebanon on Thursday, and held
several meetings at Bayt al-Wasat, including with U.S. Ambassador to
Lebanon Elizabeth Richard, and U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Joel
Rayburn.
Domestic
Politics
Hezbollah-Aligned Al-Akhbar Claims Feud Arose
Between Hariri and Joumblatt
The pro-Hezbollah daily Al-Akhbar claimed
that Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Joumblatt refused to
welcome Prime Minister Saad Hariri into his residence. According to Al-Akhbar,
the disagreement between the two was unrelated to the issue of
government formation, but personal and "very deep."
However, both Hariri
and Joumblatt
swiftly denied Al-Akhbar's claims.
Lebanon
Security Issues
Lebanon's Civil Aviation Directorate Denies Iranian
Airline Used Hariri Airport to Smuggle Weapons
NNA Lebanon reported
that Lebanon's Civil Aviation Directorate denied a recent Fox News report
that Fars Qeshm Airlines - an Iranian airline - was using Beirut's
Rafic Hariri International Airport to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah.
The Directorate's denial included the itinerary and cargo of the Fars
Qeshm flight in question. Al-Jarida reported
that IRGC-Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani's deputy denied that
Iran sends Hezbollah weapons through Hariri Airport, "because
it's under the watchful eye of every intelligence apparatus in the
world," but not that Tehran had sent its proxy group a shipment
of precision missiles in recent days.
Clashes Resume in Miyeh Miyeh Palestinian Refugee Camp,
RPG Fire Reported
Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported
on Thursday that fighting
had resumed
in the Miyeh w'Miyeh Palestinian
refugee camp
between Fatah
and pro-Hezbollah Ansarullah, with the sounds
of explosions and RPGs heard in the nearby city of Sidon. In addition
to one Fatah fighter and a civilian, two Lebanese soldiers were wounded
by an explosive which landed near a Lebanese Armed Forces position at
the camp's entrance. Clashes continued
into late Thursday night, despite reports that Lebanese Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri
and his Amal Movement had brokered
a ceasefire in the camp. NNA also reported
heightened tensions in the nearby Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee
camp after news that a Palestinian security official residing in Ain
al-Hilweh had been killed during the Miyeh w'Miyeh clashes.
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