Syrian government forces pull out of Sweida after days of violence
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Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Legal Complaints Target Hezbollah Officials in Lebanese Courts
Legal complaints are mounting against Hezbollah officials in Lebanon, accusing them of threatening national security and inciting violence against citizens, calling for the disarmament of all non-state actors, including the powerful Iran-backed group. The latest complaint was filed by Sami Gemayel, head of the Kataeb Party and an MP, against Hezbollah's deputy chief for the Bekaa region, Faisal Shukr. In the filing submitted to the Court of Cassation, Shukr is accused of 'death threats, inciting violence and sectarian strife, and endangering Lebanon's sovereignty and unity.' The complaint centers on remarks made by Shukr during a speech at a Hezbollah-organized Ashura procession in the Bekaa on July 6. 'Whoever calls for disarming the party, we will rip their soul out,' Shukr said in a video now submitted as evidence. Gemayel's legal team argued that the speech amounted to 'direct incitement to violence and civil strife,' calling for Shukr's arrest and prosecution. This is the second high-profile legal action against Hezbollah in recent days. A group of lawyers, journalists, and activists had earlier filed a complaint against Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem. The complaint cited Qassem's open declaration of support for Iran during its confrontation with the United States following the Gaza war. The plaintiffs say his statements constitute 'a direct threat to Lebanon's state policy' and 'an incitement to rebellion that endangers Lebanese lives.' While these legal actions may not advance quickly, observers say they mark a significant shift in Lebanon's political landscape. For years, few dared to challenge Hezbollah through the courts - even after the group's 2008 military takeover of parts of Beirut and a string of political assassinations targeting its critics. But the judiciary, which once routinely dismissed complaints against the group, is now formally registering them. A judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that while investigations depend on the strength of the evidence, claims that the judiciary is biased in favor of Hezbollah are 'not entirely accurate.' 'All serious cases are documented,' the source said. 'But summoning individuals for questioning is easier when their whereabouts are known. That's not always the case with Hezbollah officials.' Beyond high-level political disputes, a number of Lebanese citizens, particularly southerners living abroad, have begun filing lawsuits against Hezbollah for allegedly endangering civilians during the recent war. The complaints accuse the group of storing weapons under residential buildings and digging tunnels beneath homes without the owners' knowledge, which plaintiffs say turned these areas into targets for Israeli airstrikes. A legal source said many lawyers refused to take on these cases for fear of reprisals by Hezbollah supporters. 'Some plaintiffs were attacked simply for inspecting the ruins of their homes,' the source said, adding that business owners also claimed their shops were looted during the conflict and blamed Hezbollah for failing to protect property in areas under its control. However, the judiciary has not yet launched formal investigations into these complaints. The legal source acknowledged that lawsuits filed against Hezbollah as an organization, without naming specific individuals, make it harder for courts to initiate proceedings. The growing number of complaints reflects what some legal experts call a historic shift. Political activist and lawyer Elie Kairouz said the public is beginning to shed its fear of challenging Hezbollah, as the party's once-firm grip on the state, security agencies, and judiciary weakens. 'The old consensus that the army, people, and resistance form Lebanon's defense doctrine is gone,' Kairouz told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'Today, the government is calling for exclusive state control over weapons and is working to enforce that.' He said Hezbollah's narrative of defending Lebanon and deterring Israel has lost traction along with the reverence once attached to its weapons. 'The real turning point,' he said, 'will be when courts stop merely registering these lawsuits and begin issuing rulings. Only then can Lebanese citizens be truly protected.'
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
US envoy praises Jordan's role in ceasefire efforts in Syria's Sweida region after meeting FM
AMMAN: Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi met on Saturday with US ambassador to Turkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack and his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani to discuss recent developments in Syria, the Jordan News Agency reported. Their discussions had a particular focus on consolidating the fragile ceasefire in the southern Sweida governorate, JNA added. The talks also addressed the importance of enforcing the ceasefire to safeguard Syria's unity, protect civilians and uphold the rule of law, amid concerns over instability and violence in the region. Safadi reiterated Jordan's full support for Syria's security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stressed that peace in Syria remained a cornerstone of broader regional stability. He also expressed appreciation for Washington's diplomatic role, saying: 'The United States plays a key role in bringing about a ceasefire and in protecting Syria's security and stability and the safety of its people.' Safadi underscored the strength of the partnership and cooperation between Amman and Washington on Syria-related issues. The foreign minister went on to condemn repeated Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, denouncing them as 'a blatant violation of international law and a breach of Syria's sovereignty, which threatens its security, stability, unity, and the safety of its people.' For his part, Barrack praised Jordan's leadership in regional affairs. Amman, July 19, 2025 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, and U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack held a trilateral meeting today to discuss the situation in Syria and efforts to stabilize the… — Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 19, 2025 'Grateful for the partnership of FM Ayman Safadi today as we operationalize the ceasefire in Suwayda,' he wrote on X following the meeting. 'The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan plays a critical leadership role in the region, and we are making positive steps to support a unified, stable Syria at peace with its neighbors, including our Jordanian allies,' he added. The meeting comes amid a renewed diplomatic push to de-escalate tensions in Syria's south, where tribal, political and external dynamics continue to shape the fragile post-Assad regime landscape.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
US envoy urges accountability for church attack in West Bank village
TAYBEH, Palestinian Territories: The US ambassador to Israel on Saturday visited a Christian village in the occupied West Bank and urged accountability for an attack on an ancient church, which residents have blamed on Israeli settlers. In early July, the village of Taybeh was hit by an arson attack in the area of the ruins of the Byzantine-era Church of Saint George, which dates back to the fifth century. Residents blamed settlers for the assault, which comes as violence soars in the West Bank and last week saw an American-Palestinian man killed near Ramallah. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Christian and staunch advocate for Israel, said his trip to Taybeh aimed to 'express solidarity with the people who just want to live their lives in peace, to be able to go to their own land, to be able to go to their place of worship.' 'It doesn't matter whether it's a mosque, a church, a synagogue,' he told journalists. 'It's unacceptable to commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship.' 'We will certainly insist that those who carry out acts of terror and violence in Taybeh or anywhere be found, be prosecuted, not just reprimanded. That's not enough,' he said. 'People need to pay a price for doing something that destroys that which belongs not just to other people, but that which belongs to God.' In the villages and communities around Taybeh, Palestinian authorities reported that settlers had killed three people and damaged or destroyed multiple water sources in the past two weeks alone. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and violence has surged in the territory since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 triggered the Gaza war. Since then, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 957 Palestinians, including many militants, in the West Bank, according to health ministry figures. Over the same period, at least 36 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations, according to official figures. Huckabee, who has for years been an outspoken supporter of Jewish settlement in the Palestinian territories, on Tuesday demanded an aggressive investigation and consequences after settlers beat to death a Palestinian-American in the West Bank. It was a sign of rare public pressure against US ally Israel by President Donald Trump's administration.
