Irregularly assigned bodyguards: Mikati calls on security services to act

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati sent two letters Tuesday, one to the interior minister and the other to the General Directorate of State Security, requesting action to remove "security service members placed in the service of personalities illegally." The prime minister requested that this action be taken within one month from the date of the letters.

Mikati's letters stated, "It is requested that you remove, within one month from today … the elements in charge of protecting certain personalities."

The prime minister also asked that a request be made to the Central Security Council to decide on "personalities in need of protection."

Mikati's request comes at a time when the Lebanese government is facing challenges in providing basic public services due to the country's ongoing economic crisis. The Lebanese lira has lost more than 95 percent of its value against the US dollar since 2019. As a result, the number of civil servants commuting to their offices has significantly decreased due to the high cost of transportation and reduced purchasing power. This has also led to a reduction in the number of staff dedicated to security in public institutions.