Security 2nd half 2017

The incidents under the Security dimension were spread across the country during the second half of the 2017. 21% of these incidents were categorised as shooting. The proliferation of weapons is an ongoing issue in Lebanon. Moreover, shootings were often the result of other Security incidents such as brawls and disputes which increased the intensity of these conflicts. This is indicative of a more important social issue that makes civilians turn to violence in order to resolve disputes. Indeed, the climate of insecurity and socio-economic tension that Lebanon has been facing for the past years, in addition to the proliferation of weapons, seem to contribute to the emergence of violence among citizens. (See our Conflict Analysis bulletin, Issue 10, focusing on shooting incidents)

Similar to the beginning of the year, Baalbeck witnessed the highest level of conflictivity in the Security dimension during the second half of 2017. 44% of the Security incidents were classified as Power and Governance, which explains the high intensity of conflictivity in the caza. These incidents were mainly relevant to arms storage/smuggling as well as illicit trade operations. Baalbeck is notorious for its cannabis (hashish) farming, notably in the Bekaa Valley, which could explain the significant number of security incidents relevant to illicit trade.

Saida witnessed the second highest level of conflictivity in the Security dimension. More than half of these incidents were disputes that evolved into more violent conflicts such as shooting and assault.

In the North, the caza of Tripoli and Akkar had both an intermediate level of conflictivity in the Security dimension with most of the incidents involving shootings. Similarly, in the Mount Lebanon area, Beirut, Baabda, Kesrouan and el-Metn also witnessed an intermediate level of conflictivity in the abovementioned dimension mainly relevant to illicit trade. Also, it is noteworthy to point out that the high intensity of such incidents could be attributed to the fact that they involved prominent smuggling networks rather than small illicit trade operations (See the Conflict bulletin, issue 9 for more on operations relevant to illicit trade of drugs).