Hezbollah's hegemony under threat

: Interim Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel announced Sunday that the Internal Security Forces (ISF) will enter and secure the Beirut area of Dahiyeh where Hezbollah holds control.

The area has always been under Hezbollah control and the terrorist group began operating checkpoints after a deadly explosion targeted the area in August.

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Some 2000 reservist will be called up to “replace ISF personnel in office jobs, so that the latter can deploy in Dahiyeh on Monday,” Now Lebanon quoted Charbel as telling An-Nahar newspaper.





August 14th bombing in Dahiyeh (Photo: AFP)

“The deployment will start after the Fourth Unit gathers in the Dahiyeh on Monday afternoon, so that it can begin its mission starting Monday evening. The deployment's goal is to preserve security and alleviate citizen's concerns."

The minister stressed his aversion to Hezbollah's measures of self security, and he also reviled that there were voices in Dahiyeh calling for the security forces to take control of the area.





Smoke over Dahiyeh (Photo: Reuters)

On Thursday, the Loyalty to the Resistance party – which is Hezbollah's – called for the “Lebanese security and military agencies to handle the responsibilities of preserving security and stability and protecting locals in Beirut’s Dahiyeh,” Now Lebanon quoted them as saying.

Al Hayat reported quoted security officials who said the area would be carved up into smaller parts and divided among the forces, who will be charged with securing the area and monitoring who exists and enters.

There were also claims that behind-the-scenes talks were held with Hezbollah and it was decided the group would play a role in the new security arrangement, albeit not necessarily a visible one.

Al Akhbar – a Hezbollah affiliated paper – reported Saturday morning that this was "the first time in many years that the State enters the southern Beirut suburb to fulfill its duty after pleas from local citizens, parties and sects in the area."

The paper attempted to portray the new security arrangement as serving Hassan Nasrallah 's organization's interests, claiming "the security forces will take upon themselves security responsibilities at the beginning of next week after Hezbollah demanded the state fulfill its duty. After years of neglect, the State is returning to Dahiyeh.

Hezbollah beefed up its security in the area after at least 14 people were killed in an explosion that struck its southern Beirut stronghold mid-August.

An army statement said at the time that the cause of the explosion was a car bomb. The blast engulfed several vehicles in flames and trapped many people in nearby buildings which were damaged in the explosion. Media reports said 200 people were injured.

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