Former MP Khaled Daher issued a statement about the search and investigation warrant against him. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — The assistant government commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Hani Hilmi Hajjar, has issued a search and investigation warrant, valid for one month, against former MP Khaled Daher, at whose home heavy weapons were found during the week.
Here’s what we know:
• The army raided several homes in Bebnine in North Lebanon on Wednesday, following dayslong clashes in the neighboring village of Wadi Jamous that left five dead. The army seized a large number of weapons in Bebnine and arrested seven suspects. Members of the Daher family, including brothers of the former deputy, were arrested during the raid.
• According to the National News Agency, Hajjar issued the warrant following the seizure at Daher’s home of weapons and ammunition “that are not intended for his personal protection.”
• According to a statement released by the former MP shortly after the announcement, his family members who had been arrested were released. “The weapons seized are mine, and my brothers have nothing to do with it. I assume all the responsibilities and take a certain pride in the mandate to bring [this warrant] against me,” the former parliamentarian wrote. He added that the court should instead pursue “those who have thousands of rockets and heavy armaments, if it wishes to protect the state.”
• Daher was an MP representing Akkar from 2009 to 2018. Initially a member of the parliamentary bloc of Saad Hariri’s Future Movement, he was excluded from the bloc in 2015 after making controversial comments.