The degraded stone plaque in the village of Jarmak, in Jezzine. The photo of the President of the Republic is completely covered by the inscriptions. Photo sent by the municipality.
BEIRUT — A commemorative plaque featuring President Joseph Aoun’s image, along with a street sign bearing his name, was vandalized Sunday in the village of Jarmak, in southern Lebanon’s Jezzine district.
Between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., unknown individuals defaced the plaque, scrawling "Sayyed Martyr Hassan Nasrallah" across it — a reference to the former Hezbollah secretary-general assassinated by Israel on Sept. 27, 2024 — municipal council president Nabil Chedid told L’Orient-Le Jour.
A photo of the defaced plaque, shared by Chedid, shows Aoun’s face covered in white, obscuring his features. The Hezbollah logo, depicting a hand gripping a rifle, was painted over the image. The blue street sign, named "General Joseph Aoun," was altered to read "Sayyed Nasrallah."
Jarmak is near Aishiyeh, the hometown of the president. "This commemorative plaque was installed before General Joseph Aoun became president, back when he was army commander. The street was named by municipal decision,” Chedid said.
Aoun was elected president on Jan. 9, ending more than two years of presidential deadlock. The vandalism comes amid heightened tensions; late last week, a UNIFIL vehicle was set on fire near Beirut airport, an incident that was attributed to Hezbollah supporters and later contained by the Lebanese Army. The incident was condemned by Hezbollah officials. Nasrallah's funeral, alongside the funeral of his designated successor Hashem Saffeddine, is scheduled for Feb. 23.
Despite occurring in broad daylight, no witnesses have identified the perpetrators. "The owner of the cafe across the street had left around 3 p.m., so no one saw anything," Chedid said. He urged authorities to "quickly identify those responsible."
"I don’t know who they are or what community they belong to, but their goal is surely to incite discord by targeting the head of state with such an irresponsible and stupid act," he added.
Hezbollah condemns
While the municipality has since cleaned the plaque and plans to replace the metal sign, the act has drawn condemnation, including from Hezbollah. The group denounced the vandalism, calling it an attempt to "sow discord, especially given the sensitive timing, on the eve of the Israeli withdrawal deadline from South Lebanon."
"This reprehensible act contradicts the party’s principles and those of its former secretary-general and national martyr, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah," Hezbollah said in a statement. The party suggested the act was intended to damage its relationship with the president and called for efforts to "thwart this discord plan."
Jezzine MP Ghada Ayoub, of the Lebanese Forces, also condemned the vandalism, calling it "reprehensible on all levels, as it targets a symbol of national unity and constitutional protection." She urged security forces to "swiftly arrest and penalize those responsible, given the broad implications of the crime against the entire country."
Fares Khattar, the village mayor, described the act as "irresponsible, at a time when efforts should focus on the return of displaced residents from southern villages" following the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which saw its cease-fire extended to Feb. 18, initially set for Jan. 26.
"We must not play into the hands of those seeking to sow discord at all costs," he added.