Hajjar, touring strike sites in Beirut, calls for 'supporting the state'

BEIRUT — Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar visited on Friday the sites of deadly Israeli strikes that took place Wednesday in Beirut, where he called for “supporting the state” and expressed hope that a total cease-fire could be reached soon.

The unprecedented Israeli strikes on April 8 — which came with no warning — targeted neighborhoods of the capital that had so far been spared in this war. Several buildings collapsed, burying occupants under rubble. According to the latest report from the Health Ministry, the strikes killed more than 300 people and wounded 1,000 others. This heavy toll has reignited tensions within Lebanese society, with some blaming Hezbollah leaders for seeking refuge in residential areas.

In this context, Hajjar warned against “internal discord,” saying that it “only serves the interests of the Israelis.” Asked about the government’s decision to designate the capital as a weapons-free zone, the minister said that the necessary security measures had been taken, while acknowledging that it “is not possible to deploy patrols in front of every displaced persons' center.” He stressed that security must extend across the entire territory, insisting that the government’s decision aimed in this direction. He also announced that “instructions have been given to municipalities to guide residents in evacuating threatened neighborhoods at the slightest warning” of bombing.

Speaking from Tallet al-Khayat, where one building collapsed causing many casualties, the minister said he would “report the situation to the Prime Minister in order to consider compensations,” while acknowledging the extent of the destruction and “that it is not possible to fully compensate the affected population.” “We are counting heavily on the vigilance of the Lebanese people; we can only protect the country with everyone’s contribution,” Hajjar added.