Higher Shiite Islamic Council files complaint over 'rocket launches and sectarian incitement'

The Higher Shiite Islamic Council, represented by its legal representative, lawyer Hassan Fadlallah, filed a formal complaint with the Public Prosecution Office against anyone identified during the investigation as being involved in the rocket launches from the south, whether as a perpetrator, partner, intermediary or instigator. The complaint also targeted anyone who "spreads sectarian violence and welcomes such attacks," as reported by Markaziyah on Wednesday.

“This includes anyone involved in promoting inflammatory rhetoric towards the enemy, which destabilizes internal security, incites sectarian strife, and weakens national unity,” the statement said.

On Thursday, the Lebanese Army located the site where two rockets were fired toward northern Israel on Friday morning. On Saturday, General Security announced the arrest of “several suspects” in connection with the recent rocket fire toward Israel. The rockets were reportedly launched from an area in Qaaqaait al-Jisr (Nabatieh), north of the Litani River.

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In retaliation to this attack, Israel’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued an urgent warning Friday to evacuate a building in the Hadath area of the southern suburbs of Beirut — the first such warning since a fragile cease-fire was reached between Hezbollah and Israel on Nov. 27. The building was subsequently targeted and destroyed.

Early on Monday morning, another Israeli strike also targeted a residential building in the Sfeir neighborhood without warning, killing Hassan Bdeir, the deputy head of the Palestinian file within Hezbollah, his son, and two other people. The senior party official was at home with his family when the Israeli army conducted its strike.

Hezbollah confirmed the death of Bdeir and his son, Ali, on Tuesday afternoon, releasing photos of both men in military fatigues.

The U.S. State Department justified the strike in a statement cited by Reuters, linking it to last Friday's rocket fire from Lebanon

After the attack, some Lebanese social media users hailed the strike and expressed joy over the destruction of “Hezbollah sites.”

“Special attention must be given to those Lebanese individuals expressing joy over the threat of an Israeli attack on Beirut. Such behavior suggests an alarming disregard for the safety and livelihood of their fellow citizens, and is considered a grave crime that undermines civil peace and fosters sectarian violence,” the statement said.

While in Paris for meetings with the French president, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun released a statement affirming Hezbollah's firm denial of involvement in the attacks. “Everything indicates Hezbollah is not responsible” for the rocket fire toward Israel, Aoun said.

“There is no doubt that the launch of these rockets was aimed at destabilizing internal security and provoking broader hostilities with the Israeli enemy. Such actions are crimes that threaten state security, violate both national and international laws, and jeopardize diplomatic efforts to prevent further conflict,” the Council said in its statement.

“The undersigned requests that this complaint be referred as soon as possible to the competent security authorities for further investigation into the rocket launches and the individuals involved in spreading dangerous rhetoric that could destabilize the country and encourage sectarian conflict.”