An armed militiaman from the Amal movement walks past burning cars in Beirut on May 7, 2008, during intercommunal clashes. (Credit: Archive photo Ramzi Haidar/AFP)
Armed Hezbollah men deployed across the streets of Beirut, barricades erected on the roads leading to the airport, media outlets targeted, and the Lebanese Army tried to prevent the country from spiraling further into chaos.Eighteen years later, the shadow of another May 7 still hangs over the country, as Hezbollah’s disarmament remains unresolved and continues to fuel tensions.In 2008, the tensions erupted after Fouad Siniora’s Cabinet took the historic decision to dismantle Hezbollah’s private telecommunications network and dismiss the head of Beirut airport Security, a figure known for his close ties to Hezbollah.Today, the prospect of such a scenario being repeated is regularly invoked by Hezbollah circles, as the authorities seek to place all weapons under exclusive state control and open direct negotiations with Israel. Here’s a...
Armed Hezbollah men deployed across the streets of Beirut, barricades erected on the roads leading to the airport, media outlets targeted, and the Lebanese Army tried to prevent the country from spiraling further into chaos.Eighteen years later, the shadow of another May 7 still hangs over the country, as Hezbollah’s disarmament remains unresolved and continues to fuel tensions.In 2008, the tensions erupted after Fouad Siniora’s Cabinet took the historic decision to dismantle Hezbollah’s private telecommunications network and dismiss the head of Beirut airport Security, a figure known for his close ties to Hezbollah.Today, the prospect of such a scenario being repeated is regularly invoked by Hezbollah circles, as the authorities seek to place all weapons under exclusive state control and open direct negotiations with Israel....
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