LBN320009

NNA - The Directorate of Lebanese Army Guidance has issued on Saturday the following communiqué: In the wake of stringent security measures implemented by the army all over the country, Army Intelligence operatives have arrested in in Baabda, Ibrahim Mohammad Ezzeddine for belonging to a terrorist group and for supplying them with food and fuel.
http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/59705/Army-Three-people-arrested-for-...
وأشارت المديرية في بيان، إلى أن "مديرية المخابرات أوقفت في منطقة بعبدا بتاريخ 5/4/2016، المواطن (ا. م. ع.) لإرتباطه بتنظيمات إرهابية وإقدامه على تهريب مواد غذائية ومحروقات لمصلحتها،
http://assafir.com/Article/486053

An Israeli reconnaissance aircraft breached the national airspace at 7:20 a.m. on Saturday over the Southern town of al-Naqoura, circled over Beirut, Baabda, Metn, Riyaq, Baalbak and the South, and then left at 6:15 p.m. over the town of Alma el-Shaeb, an Army communiqué indicated.

http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/49952/Two-enemy-reconnaissance-planes...

A reconnaissance plane affiliated with the Israeli military violated, at 2:15 pm yesterday, the Lebanese airspace over Naqoura, and effectuated circular flights off Beirut, Metn, and Baabda, a communiqué by the army indicated on Friday.
The spying jet left at 6:45 am today from above Naqoura.

http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/47795/Army-enemy-flight-over-Lebanon

Army Command Guidance Directorate issued the following communiqué: "On Friday at 4:15 p.m., an Israeli drone violated Lebanese airspace from above the sea off Nakoura village, executed circular flight over Beirut, Metn and Baabda region; and then left on Saturday at 02:00 a.m. from above Nakoura village.

http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/47822/Army-Israeli-drone-violates-Leb...

A bomb which was found earlier near the Lebanese University Campus walls, weighing 300 grams of explosive material connected to electric cables, has been dismantled by military experts, a Lebanese Army Orientation Directorate communiqué disclosed Sunday.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/37157/Army-Bomb-found-near-Lebane...

Poster of solidarity posted around the area in solidarity with Syrian nationals and refugees.

"To our people in the areas of Hadath. Three soldiers have died: Mohammad Hanniyeh, Ali El Sayyed and Abbas Medlej.
The father of the martyr Mohammad Hanniyeh asked all the citizens not to take bad decisions towards the Syrian refugees because they are our parents.
Moreover, the family of the Sergent Ali El Sayyed, stressed that Syrian refugees should not be blamed for the events unfolding in our country asking that the refugees be taken good care of and helped.
At the condolences of Abbas Medlej somebody argued: “If Daesh (ISIS) and their supporters aim at causing internal dissensions, we will work to counter their plans by not oppressing Syrian refugees. These are our norms and social values”.
The committee of the parents of the abducted soldiers recommends not to take any discriminatory action against Syrian refugees.
The majority of deaths caused by Daesh (ISIS) are found to be of Syrian nationality.
Despite this reality, most lebanese are considering that every Syrian is a member of Daesh (ISIS).
Syrian citizens fled from Daesh (ISIS) and the Syrian regime in Syria and came to Lebanon in order to find peace and security. However, we are blaming them on a daily basis for the crimes of Daesh (ISIS).
The Lebanese Government is the only one responsible for the lack of resolution of the problem of the abducted soldiers at Arsal. Our government did not care about the release of the Lebanese who have been abducted in Syria and Israel during the previous wars. Today, it is not doing anything to change the situation of those abducted in Arsal. So are we to blame? Who is responsible? The Syrian refugees who have no connection to the abduction? Or the Lebanese government which has never truthfully helped or protected the life of its own citizens?

The Lebanese government is the one responsible, let us blame it, and let it take all the responsibility! Enough with the aggression against Syrian refugees and Syrian workers!

The committee for the fight against sectarianism and racism."

Source: First-hand data collected by the Lebanon Support team.

A municipality in Baabda appears determined to enforce a curfew on Syrian laborers, even though the step is illegal. Snapshots of banners announcing a curfew for “foreigners” between 8:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. in the town of Betshai-Mardasheh, located next to Baabda, were circulated on social media sites last week, provoking outrage among many who decried the clampdown as “racist.”

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told LBCI over the weekend that the municipality was barred by law from passing resolutions that infringe on the authority of the state security forces, but has so far taken no action on the matter.

“The municipality cannot issue a curfew for anyone, be it a citizen or a non-citizen, not to mention that it is completely racist,” lawyer Karim Nammour said, describing Charbel’s equivocation regarding the enforcement of the law as “irresponsible.”

The banners were still strung across major thoroughfares of the town when The Daily Star visited Sunday and many residents expressed their support for the curfew.

Gaby Hobeika, 50, said it was necessary because of a rise in crime, which he blamed on Syrian laborers.

“They wrote ‘foreigners’ [on the announcement] because they don’t want to write Syrians, but the only foreigners here at night are Syrians,” he said. “It’s for security; it’s not because we don’t like Syrians. They are welcome in our homes, but at night, they are going out and making trouble, harassing girls; this is why there is a curfew.”

Betshai is a small, predominantly Christian village overlooking Beirut, the kind of place where everyone knows each other and the municipality is hidden away on the fourth floor of a nondescript apartment building, devoid of security presence on a Sunday.

According to locals, the recent influx of foreigners, particularly Syrians, who are either employed in local factories or fleeing rising rents in Beirut, has unsettled long-time residents.

Gaby Hobeika’s views were common among several people who spoke with The Daily Star. In fact, according to local residents, there has been a 10 p.m. curfew in place for some time.

“The first time we tried it there were still a lot of thefts and thuggery,” said Mazen Aramouni, 27, explaining the earlier curfew. “The workers at construction sites were being loud and quarrels broke out.”

The few Syrian workers who were out and about Sunday afternoon appeared wary of a reporter, but said they had no problem with the curfew.

“This is a normal step, any area can do it, no problem,” said a 17-year-old Syrian from Deir al-Zor who arrived just a few weeks ago.

“We went out after 8 p.m., and they told us ‘don’t go out,’” said the young man, who declined to give his name, while emphasizing he has not had any problems with the Lebanese in town, who he described as “nice.”

Fattouh Suleiman, 28, from Aleppo, has been working in Lebanon for years and is better off financially than many of his countrymen. Suleiman said he has not been affected by the curfew because he has a car, and the rule is only enforced for pedestrians.

“It’s fair, they are also protecting us as well,” he said of the curfew, but admitted that Syrians without a car have no option but to stay indoors at night. “The decision has been made and they can’t do anything about it. They [the municipality] won’t repeal it.”

According to Nay al-Rahi of the Antiracism Movement, the curfew is just one manifestation of a pervasive and hostile attitude toward Syrians that can be seen at the top levels of government as well as on the street.

“Aside from the fact that it’s illegal ... it’s completely unacceptable, but it’s all in line with this discourse that refugees and foreigners are basically the cause of all crimes and problems,” she said. “It’s not isolated, and it’s getting more aggressive.”

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Feb-25/207793-baabda-town...

October 1990: In Baabda, 14 high-ranking officers loyal to Aoun were abducted. One was released and handed over to the Lebanese authorities. The other 13 were detained in various Syrian prisons.

October 13–14, 1990: In Baabda, Mount Lebanon, at least 30 soldiers taken prisoner were reportedly executed following their capture by Syrian troops. Amnesty International (AI) reports “Young men . . . partially stripped . . . hands tied behind their backs . . . shot in the head at close range. Another source mentions a hospital receiving the bodies of 73 Lebanese Army soldiers, all executed at close range with a bullet in the lower right side of the skull.

January 1, 1985: Heavy shelling took place over Kfarshima, Hadath, Baabda, Hazmieh, Fayadieh, Yarzeh, Arayya, Sin al-Fil, Dekwaneh, Ashrafieh, Jdeideh, Broummana, Beit Mery, Mansourieh, Ajaltun, Ballouneh, Klayaat, Aley, and Khaldeh, killing an unknown number of people.

August 10, 1983: PSP shelling over East Beirut and its suburbs, including Yarzeh, Jamhour, Mkalles, Baabda, and Mansourieh, killed 12 civilians and injured 25.

The LAA heavily bombarded the palace with 155-millimeter shells, forcing Frangieh to flee and relocate in Zouk Mikael, in the capital’s northern suburbs.