Lebanese are increasingly concerned about the return of the assassination scenario, especially after the assassination of Shiite activist Luqman Slim, known for his opposition to Hezbollah, the most prominent suspect in recent years.
At a time when the Lebanese security services fail to protect the party’s opponents, despite threats to their personal safety, analysts say that the judiciary’s inability to hold the perpetrators of these previous assassinations accountable is a major indicator of their strong return, stressing that they are not just intimidation.
During the days that followed the assassination of the activist Luqman Slim, Hezbollah pages and websites circulated lists of opponents of the party including political figures, media figures and activists, accompanied by the phrase “Whoever is bought cheap one day will be sold cheap.” Some, considered this as a new threatening message.
At the same time, pro-party activists launched a hashtag entitled “The despicable media under the embassy’ s order”, referring to the US embassy in Beirut, and attached it to a list of names that includes the names of media professionals, Marcel Ghanem, Dima Sadiq, Diana Muqled, Ali Al-Amin, Nadim Qutaish, Jerry Maher, Rami Al-Amin and Luna Safwan, in addition to Dr. Makram Rabah and Dr. Mona Fayyad, all of whom are known for their hostile stances against Hezbollah.
A special assassination unit
Journalist Bashir Jabbour confirms that there is a decision by Hezbollah to liquidate all influential journalists, activists, and opinion-makers within the Shiite community in particular, and the Lebanese society in general, in order to silence every voice that contradicts the party’s policy and reveals the image of truth in the minds of the Lebanese. He also pointed out that the assassinations are the party’s only weapon to terrorize anyone who says no, and it is likely that this next stage will witness a return of assassinations.
Jabour confirm to MENA Monitor that the party has reactivated the assassinations unit “121”, which was led by Slim Ayyash, the perpetrator of the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri.
He explained that the aforementioned unit is linked to a multiple and intertwining network of assassinations that began in 1979, with the emergence of mullahs’ rule in Iran, pointing out that the unit is considered responsible for many of the assassinations that have been carried out in Lebanon, and that its activities are not limited to the Lebanese interior, but rather target opponents abroad, especially in Syria and Iraq.
It is noteworthy, that the Washington Post had earlier quoted US and European security officials that the assassination squad in the name of Unit 121 is under the high command within Hezbollah, and has been active for years under the umbrella of various entities that stood behind a series of lethal car bombings, as well as targeting a number Among the Lebanese military and political leaders and journalists for decades, including Major Wissam Eid, the Lebanese investigator in the Hariri killing, Major General Wissam Al Hassan, head of the Information Division in the Internal Security Forces, Major General Francois Hajj, director of operations in the Lebanese army, and Minister Muhammad Chatah, all of whom were killed in accidents Car bombs between 2007 and 2013.
As for the mechanisms of Unit 121, Jabour asserts that it includes dozens of agents, completely separated from each other and anything else, and they receive their orders directly from the party’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, and his deputy, Naim Qassem. He explained that the unit follows in its work the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, specifically the Quds Force, which is responsible for operations in the Middle East region.
Al-Manar enters the line of threats
During the past few days, which followed the assassination of Luqman Slim, threats to opponents of Hezbollah in Lebanon escalated, as the party’s Al-Manar channel entered the line and published a list of names and photos of a number of opponents of the party.
After the introduction to the high-ceiling newscast, Al-Manar channel launched a direct attack on the MTV channel after the MTV channel aired a program presented by Dima Sadiq, which accused Hezbollah directly of assassinating Slim.
lawyer Khalil al-Halabi believes that the recent escalation carries several messages to the Lebanese people, the first of which is that Lebanon is not well and that all indications confirm that the political assassinations will return to Lebanon soon, especially that the assassination of “Slim” came after he was previously threatened, and this means that the party is telling the Lebanese to be silent or they will face the same fate.
al-Halabi added that what he called “electronic armies” and the campaigns carried out by the media outlets affiliated with the party, cannot separate or operate separately from the party that follows them, especially since modern means and technologies are used and carried out by specific people who go to a wide audience in an organized work.
In addition, Al-Halabi points out that the party realizes that there is no point in the judiciary’s interference, especially that the people who are targeted by the lawsuits will be from the front lines of the party, which means that the Lebanese judiciary will face today’s test, and any judge the party resorts to will feel that he is facing some pressure. With what the party represents in terms of security, military and political power, and thus the judiciary will face a stage similar to what it was during the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, when all the authorities were subjected to terrorizing the Syrian regime, and the judiciary is part of the political landscape.
Rasha al-Amir, the sister of the late activist, Luqman Slim, confirmed during her statements that her brother had previously indicated that he had been exposed to various threats that arrived at his home, indicating that these were the ones who killed him. The late activist had reported about a gathering of dozens in front of his house in Haret Hreik in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which coincided with a similar attack carried out by supporters of “Hezbollah” and the Amal Movement and targeted a tent of activists in Beirut.
al-Amir added that Slim said at the time that there was a link between the two attacks, as they were carried out by the same party, which is the Hezbollah group, disguised under the cover of secular slogans.
“This is fate, not judgment … fate will suffocate us all.” Rasha said sarcastically,
She also confirmed that she does not trust the Lebanese judiciary and complained about the security’s laziness in responding to her brother’s complaint
