Hizbullah’s revenge: attacks on citizens, all major roads, including airport road, blocked

The Hizbullah militia and its supporters spent a good part of the day terrorizing Beirut citizens, blocking major roads, and dumping dirt along the airport road, blocking access to the airport.

Flights to and from Beirut's Rafik Hariri airport have been canceled.

Hooligans on motorcycles are touring Beirut neighborhoods, throwing insults and beating residents. Clashes between Hizbullah/Amal and March 14 supporters erupted in several mixed neighborhoods in the city.

The media is reporting heavy gunfire and use of rocket propelled grenades. The pro-Hizbullah labor unions, meanwhile, have called off today’s strike, which LBC said, quoting government sources, was used by Hizbullah as an excuse for unleashing violence and exact revenge after Monday's cabinet decision to crack down on Hizbullah's spy network in the country.

LBC is reporting that Hizbullah will not re-open the airport road. Berri and Hizbullah have reportedly asked the government to reinstate the pro-Hizbullah airport security chief in return for ending their riots and occupation of the airport road. 

The army is saying that it will "choose the right time" to re-open the road.

Update. Wafiq Choukair, the pro-Hizbullah airport security chief fired by the government, is reporting to work as usual and refusing to relinquish his post.

LBC is still airing Ministry of Tourism spots promoting tourism in Lebanon, some calling Lebanon a "safe destination". One spot shows families reuniting at the airport.

With Hizbullah in de-facto occupation of the airport, those of us with families in Lebanon will have to wait until someone puts an end to Nasrallah's terrorism. The outlaw is scheduled to give a press conference from some hole in the ground tomorrow.

Update 2. Aoun's mouthpiece OTV is reporting that Hizbullah is considering erecting tents on the airport road.

If true, there is one solution: bulldozers. If the government does not ACT NOW to remove Hizbullah from that road, we will face another occupation similar to that of downtown Beirut. Hizbullah and Nasrallah do not have the right to prevent people from using the airport.

To hell with Suleiman. Send in your ISF now. Let it be war against those hooligans. Hizbullah cannot be allowed to continue. If Suleiman does not want to engage his troops, let him take his precious vacation time and let Jumblatt's man run it. It's now or never.

Update 3. Fairuz, who was last seen singing in Damascus, is one of many passengers stranded at the airport.

Mohammad Kabani, a March 14 MP, says the Qulayaat airport in the north will be ready in 24 hours.

What is this? partition?

Update 4. LBC, quoting ministerial sources: government could declare state of emergency and curfew.

Update 5. A Hizbullah source told the Iranian news agency Fars that the militia will "open the gates of hell on this agent government".

Now Lebanon quotes al-Seyassah: Hizbullah now considers the Lebanese army an enemy entity. We didn't need this report. This became obvious after the January riots.

Comments

[Jeha]

Yadlajoie dans les chaumieres...

This will be a costly mistake, and the climbdown will be ever so costly to whoever blinks first. The UN blocks the way to Cyprus, Hezb'O blocks the airport, and Syria's waiting for us at the border. Nice.

I'm not sure how we're going to be able to continue working in this Globalized world of ours, and now even Israeli companies are now out competing us in the Gulf. Go figure which side Nasrallah's really on.

[VOR]

HA's is going all out to make the government pay for their decision in trying to rightfully restore state authority; they are inciting violence including tossing grenades at M14 political offices, closing major roads and even taking on security forces. It's obvious that HA is working to intimidate the majority and in doing so impose its will upon the rest of the country. Unless the army takes on these criminals once and for all, then we might as well hand the country over to them....this is the last straw, you either enforce the law the way it should be, or you just let them take over.

[danny]

Yup, Glory to the RESISTANCE!!! Every day the Hizb is showing their isolation. It is not a mere miscalculation but the fact that they see the dead end! The Lebanese people/leadership has been semi liberated from the halo of the Party of God! I was just watching these hoodlums and morons on their motor scooters zig zagging and throwing rocks…What a peaceful demonstration. A few things accomplished:

a. Hizb’s veil down again (pardon the pun)
b. HA showing their true colours of thuggery and terrorism
c. The obvious “unveiling” of the village idiot and his merry men. Where is the orange crew?
d. Ghosn calls off strike…How pathetic!!!

Guys all cards seem to be almost on the table. I can see that hot summer fast approaching in the Spring. I would like to see how the government and LAF/ISF act as this is simply thuggery and has nothing to do with demonstration…

[Jeha]

Hot spring? not yet... The fact remains that the masters of all those goons are betting on the US elections.

Ugly as it is, this is all a dress rehearsal. The main show will happen closer to the US election in November, depending on how the puppeteers feel about the outcome.

[Solomon2]

NOW Lebanon reports (http://nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=41230) that Hezbollah officials have been told to go into hiding. With its thugs on the attack, that looks like DEFCON 1 to me, not a "dress rehearsal".

"The army is saying that it will "choose the right time" to re-open the road."

Since Nahr al-Bared, has the Lebanese Army been known for making empty threats?

[Doha]

Just because Hizbullah was asked to dismantle part of its "telecommunications network" and act like a political party and not like a state within a state, all hell is breaking loose and they're dumping garbage on the streets, blocking the airport road (even preparing to build makeshift tents next to the airport for a sit-in), and unleashing violence on the streets (including burning down an Al Mustaqbal office in Nweiry). It's like who's ruling the country? Is it that terrible of an assault to ask a party to remove a surveillance camera in the airport which is so glaringly positioned for reasons that has nothing to do with the party's security, when they already know every atom entering and leaving the country, thanks to their extensive security and intelligence apparatus.

Maybe it's time for politicians to remove the holiness cover under Hizbullah's feet and say things as they are once and for all. Khalass, tifi7 il keil!!!!

[Doha]

I can't even stomach reading tayyar.org. They only report that the army is rounding up Al-Mustaqbal militia men and then mention in "passive tense" (without mentioning who) قطع طريق المطار بالسواتر الترابية وتوجه لنصب خيم للاعتصام فيها . Hmmm, I wonder who's blocking the roads to the airport, some invisible men?.....

[Mustapha]

Of all people I know, you'll be the one who'll appreciate this irony most:
Fairouz is stuck in the airport :)

[RebLeb]

Saniora needs to grow some cojones and send the tanks at these piece of sh.. This is a coup! Act now or forget any progress, any democracy, any independence.

[marillionlb]

AK,
Yes to hell with Suleiman! finally people are beginning to wake up. My nephew's plane landed in Cyprus instead of Beirut. I will not repeat the comment I posted on your previous text, but if those tents are erected on the road to the airport, believe me when I say that the only way to remove them will be if us (true Lebanese) drive over them and their occupiers in our cars. The government, and the army will do nothing!
It is time that we accept the fact that M14 are nothing but a bunch of useless cowards.
It is time we finally get it through our sick skulls that Hizballah is after his original plan of Dawlat Al Fakih (like I said from day one).
It is time for the people to change the course of things and to shape the future.

[Solomon2]

"Fairouz is stuck in the airport."

"Stuck", or held hostage? Hezbollah has moved their own armored units (bulldozers) to block the airport road. Their troops came equipped to set up camp, they have access to months of necessary supplies via the airport, and no one can come or go via air without Hezbollah permission.

This isn't like camping out in downtown Beirut at all, this - together with the attempt to seize the seaport access - is a rope around Beirut's neck. Every minute appears to make the Hezbollah position on the road and in the airport itself stronger, so waiting two days until Nasrallah speaks will grant Hezbollah a fait accompli, and who knows what will happen to the hostages? How can this be resolved without violence, save by the surrender of government forces to Hezbollah's will?

[Vulcan]

Lets watch and see how the no balls Sanyoora government backs down in the face of these Syrian/Iranian funded outlaws... we have seen this dance many times before.

[ghassan karam]

This is not the time to discuss what could have been or who failed to do what. There is a time for everything and the present moment is one for action. The current government has an opportunity to do the right thing to marshal all its resources to quell this rebellion once and for all. The current cabinet must demonstrate its ability to govern by dismantling all the HA infrastructure, disarming the militia, open the doors of the Parliament to elect( not appoint) a President pass a new electoral law and above all start the journey towards non sectarianism. Every calamity carries within it the seeds of a greater benefit. But such benefits do not just happen, we have to work for them. This is the time to act in order to save Lebanon and build a future on solid grounds.

[Vulcan]

How about bhebak ya lebnan for an impromptu by the "Diva Fairuz" for these hoodlums on the Airport road.

[Doha]

Well guess what, so far Seniora has called Amr Moussa letting him know of the grave situation in Beirut. How's that for action?! C'mon, the gov't has to do something to end this siege!

[Beiruti]

I see this as a sea change of attitude of the government toward the State within a State Hizbollah.

It is internationalized. The government knew what it was doing when it issued the decrees on Monday, they were advised that Hezbollah would respond as they have and so we have to let the Government follow through with whatever response they had prepared for this eventuality.

Knowing how M14 operates, it would not have taken this step without the necessary support of allies, regionally and internationally to back them up, materially to take this action.

Hezbollah has to be brought to heel. It has used the paralysis that it imposed on the government to grow its own state within the Republic of Lebanon. It has become a cancerous growth, it is hostile to its host government and now it says that the Lebanese Army is its enemy.

Either this is a major showdown in which either Hezbollah or the Constitutional government of Lebanon will prevail, or Hezbollah is into its death throes.

It has been Iranian doctrine that Hezbollah was not to use its weapons against its host country. Hezbollah existed only as a strategic weapon to be used by Iran against Israel mainly for a deterrent.

Possibly Iran or Syria has cut Hezbollah lose so that Hezbollah feels the need, that if it is to continue to exist, it must take over the levers of the government itself.

Possibly the M14 led Government knew that Hezbollah had been turned free from its masters and so it is taking this opportunity to disarm it.

We have to let it play out some. Of course, the the government is hapless in the face of Hezbollah, then the people will have to step in to save the country....Again.

But we are not there yet, let it play out a bit longer first.

[danny]

Ditto Beiruti and ghassan,

Reports are that the government is about to declare a state of emergency. As Beiruti said these decisions re: HA network did not come on a whim. the March 14 and the government seem to think they are ready for the next step...Call the HA bluff that its weapons are not for internal use. Send in the elite units of the Army and ISF to dismantle these maggots quickly! Yes elite units of armed forces; for those of you who think that March 14 and the government were not getting ready for this moment in the past three years you are gravely mistaken. I think ISF and LAF have enough western trained units who can take care of this!! Closing the airport is not an option. They cannot cut Lebanon off!! Time for action now...Let's judge how this government acts in the next few hours!!
I have a feeling that March 14, athough has mistakes and faults, has pinned HA...The "boya" is off the newly painted car...the rust is showing.

[Solomon2]

"we are not there yet, let it play out a bit longer first."

Except that the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss implementation of UNSC 1559. Obviously if "Hizbullah's revenge" continues for twenty more hours it will overshadow the expected negative assessment of the report - and some members may be reluctant to discuss it at all, seeing that blocking Lebanon's ports traps U.N. forces, too.

Did you think it was ALL about Lebanon? It has all been carefully timed. "Crazy" Aoun is right: it's about challenging Western hegemony in the Levant. It isn't just between governments, either: the seaport road blockade was broken by individual motorists; only then did the Army step in to consolidate gains - for now, anyway. So at this moment individual Lebanese have more power to choose their own fate than they have in a generation - those who are willing to do so, that is.

[Bad Vilbel]

Well, I guess all the folks clamoring for "bringing HA into the fold" are finally seeing the light today.

I've been saying all along, the only way short of partition is some sort of martial law and for the government to crack down on these guys with no mercy whatsoever. And yes, I know that means civil war against 1/3 of the population, and yes I know it means "civilian" lives will be lost and it will mean the Army/ISF will have to fire at "civilians" and all that jazz. But that's just a price Lebanon is going to have to pay.

I'm still not holding my breath though that the incompetent government is going to respond to this crap in any meaningful way.

This is what happens when you keep giving in to blackmail and trying to "negotiate a settlement". Pretty soon, you've got nothing left. M14 has already waited far too long for this. It should've never been allowed to come to this point.

[Bad Vilbel]

Hezbollah declares the Lebanese Army an enemy. (Now Lebanon)

Forgive me while I puke. Whatever happened to "The Resistance doesn't turn it's weapons against other Lebanese" (the big old red herring that some useful idiots keep repeating)?

"Hezbollah grants government 48 hours to revoke decisions:
The sources added that the proposal was rejected by Hezbollah officials, who said it would give the government 48 hours to revoke the recent cabinet decisions, or else the street violence would escalate further."

I'm sure people are familiar with the definiton of "blackmail". But in case you aren't...This is it.

[LebExile]

saw this coming months ago.... or was I just hoping for it...

in either case. about time!

[Andre]

The army must intevene and put an end to this...there is no other choice, this confrontation has been building up for a long time and now's the time to do what's right...these thugs do not understand anything else but brutal force and that's what's needed to put them down, I just feel bad for the innocent people caught in all of this.

[Bad Vilbel]

Ditto.

However, I am not holding my breath. Short of the government taking decisive action (which it hasn't yet). This is no different than the riots earlier this year.

For it to REALLY be something, the government needs to act with force. State of emergency, curfew, people shot on sight. No matter how unpopular this might be with civilians. People must be actually ARRESTED for breaking the law. No "we're looking into it" crap.

And so far, I'm still not seeing that. I'm still waiting for our hapless PM to actually take to the airwaves and address the population (which is what any self respecting leader does in times of crisis).

[Vox P.]

Partition! At last! Champagne everybody!

[LebExile]

I think it's time the government declares Hiz a terror group and revokes them.

[Bad Vilbel]

Hizb should've been declared a terror group a LONG time ago, actually. But yeah. Better late than never.

Having said that, we're back to the discussion I was having here 2 days ago. HA is NOT a small criminal group like Fath Al Islam. It (like is or not) "represents" 1/3 of the population.

How do you tackle that?

[JoseyWales]

Saniora and M14 and the Pat, by delaying confrontation (not necessarily military) have invited all these events.

Like the old car mechanic commercial: you can pay me now or you can pay me later.

Small confrontation last year or big confrontation this year or bigger one next year?. I guess we have an answer. And it's the wrong one, like always.

Same on partition, it's not yes or no. It's: partition on their terms or yours?

Two good years of partition will make for wonderful reconciliation, I GUARAWNTEE IT!

And BTW, my gut tells me this is exactly what General Hajj's assassination was about.

[Bad Vilbel]

Josey,

Can you elaborate about what you mean about General Hajj? I didn't really get that.

[Bad Vilbel]

From Naharnet's "ticker":
8:14 Hizbullah mouthpiece Manar tv station: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal movement said the government bears full responsibility of what happened today.

As usual, blame the victim. Last I checked, it's not the government that's out blocking roads and torching private property. The "responsibility" is EXACTLY on those who commit those acts. No one else.

For the love of God, SOMEONE call Berri on this shit, IN PUBLIC. His statement is exactly the same as the rapist going "She was asking for it, wearing that short skirt."
The same exact logic...

[Bad Vilbel]

"Lebanese Sunna are fed up with Hizbullah practices, Grand Mufti Qabbani said". (Naharnet)

Civil war in 3, 2, 1....

[Bad Vilbel]

I can't help but find myself thinking...I wish that cyclone that struck Myanmar actually hit Lebanon. This whole damned country needs to be cleansed by some Tsunami or wiped off the face of the planet....

[Doha]

فت: كاميرا المطار كانت مرفقة بجهاز تنصت على اتصالات برج المراقبة

[Marillionlb]

"This is a time for action". I doubt that Saniora and M14 will follow up on what they have started, yes it is a time for action. All LEBANESE should say no to Hizbollah and their allies. No for this blatant disregard to the rule of law. We have to acknowledge the fact that the Lebanese army in useless in protecting the Lebanese (10452Km2) territory from local militias, let alone from any foreign occupying force.
Time for action? Yes, now is the time for the people to defend Lebanon. Now is the time for what I call the "silent majority" to act and risk it all for the sake of OUR country.

[JoseyWales]

BV,

Hajj was a rabid sovereignist and the tough highest ranking COMBAT officer in charge of the COMBAT and elite contingents.

Just a hunch of course, that Hezbo/Iran wanted to minimize any potential resistance/trouble/coup by the army in the event of well...what we are seeing now.

[Bad Vilbel]

Josey,

Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying. I wasn't familiar with Hajj before he was killed, other than he was "in charge" of Nahr Al bared operations.

You may be right.

Nuke the bloody piece of sh...called Lebanon and move on...

[Doha]

Clashes have moved to the Bekaa with the main road leading to Beirut has been closed. Sources confirm that Al-Mustaqbal armed men blocked the road but not sure it's true.

[Bad Vilbel]

I'm so freaking angry today, I haven't been able to get any work done. Damned bloody country. Damned people. Get your heads out of your asses already.

[Bad Vilbel]

It's nightime in Beirut right now, right?

Time for action. Most of the thugs should be back in their beds by now, satisfied with their day's worth of mayhem. This is where army commandos deploy throughout the city, without any warning. Simultaneously, Nabih Berri, Michel Aoun and every other traitor who can be found (I'm assuming Nassrallah is well hidden) is dragged out of bed at gunpoint and rounded up by special forces from the ISF or the Army.
At 6am, Lebanese people wake up to an announcement of martial law. Anyone on the street that's not army or ISF will be shot at, with NO WARNING.
Lebanese Air Force helicopters take to the air and blast the fuck out of anything that moves in Dahieh or anywhere else.
Bulldozers reopen all blocked roads.
8am. The traitors are lined up against a wall and executed by firing squad.
9am. The government announces 12 months of military rule during which security will be the ONLY concern (democracy be damned for now). Parliament is dissolved. New elections are announced for 6 months from now using the Boutros law. Which is the last thing parliament ratifies before it's dismissed.

[LebExile]

the government was playing safe for a reason...
they tried and tried and then tried some more to come to an accomadation with the thugs (sorry Hiz) but got nothing in return but more dead ends, arrogance, and blackmail.

I am starting to believe that the government was deliberately holding off until not only the Lebanese people were fed up with Hiz and Syria and Iran, but until the entire world - including the arab world was so fed up with them, that everyone would be begging them to continue the fight.

Hiz did paint themselves into a corner, but, short of giving up their weapons, there was no way of avoiding it.... in either case, if they lose now, that is the end of Hiz, if they gave up their weapons, then, no more money from Iran - and so end of Hiz...

At least now, if Hiz are defeated, Hassy can be charged with treason like he should have years ago, and I may even go to Lebanon just to watch him hang!

[Doha]

Just on Voix du Liban: It's confirmed that tents have been erected around the airport area.

[Doha]

It doesn't look good at all and I don't understand why the Army is not able to get things under control, now that the Bekaa this evening has become a second battle ground. Footage I've seen on the Internet give me the shivers; it's like in the 80s back again with gunfire, militiamen running loose on the streets and burnt cars.

And then for the first time Mufti Qabbani did not call for calm; he on the contrary expressed anger and exasperation and outright said Resistance is just a cover for a party to occupy Beirut and paralyze it. This does not bode well at all.

I don't know what Hizbullah is thinking; its actions on the ground do not look good and will not garner any support regionally or internationally. It's political suicide! As mentioned in other comments, the Army and the ISF should make a move now.

[Bad Vilbel]

Doha,

You don't know what HA is thinking? It's pretty clear what they're thinking.

I don't know what the govt and Army are thinking, letting this spiral out of control. The longer they wait to act, the worse it gets.

PS: I too would gladly fly back to Lebanon just to watch Nassrallah hang.

[Marillionlb]

An iranian plan landed at Beirut airport, 300 passengers on board, escorted out by Hizbollah.
And you still wonder as to Hassan's plans?

[LebExile]

were they all male passengers between the ages 20 - 30??

[Charlie]

So at least now there is no more hiding behind conciliatory statements and bogus empty words of unity. Like I said before, if this escalates to a complete show down with HA, then that is because the decision has been taken to clean up the region (Lebanon, Iraq and PA) from the Iranian tools. I have a feeling Syria, as usual, will sit this one out.

On the other hand if this comprehensive decision has not been reached yet, then I am afraid the Lebanese government is playing lead here. So it has to be very careful how it navigates the next few days. I am hoping it is not the case.

In any case, at this point Saniora and the M14 political establishment can not back down from this show down if they are to preserve anything called the Republic of Lebanon.

[Bad Vilbel]

Charlie, agreed.

[Solomon2]

Noted:

1) No assassinations.
2) No official word from the cabinet about today's events.
3) Nothing from Siniora, Jumblatt, or Suleiman.

I don't think they have been sleeping, but I do wonder what they have been doing.

[ghassan karam]

As we all know everything has a price and some intangibles; like freedom, democracy and dignity; are priceless.I hope that those who subscribe, like I do,to the idea that the timing of this current crisis is not accidental that March 14 have a plan to retake the country. If events show that they didn't then why did they precipitate this escalation? The next few days will be telling and I hope that March 14 will prove the Rahbani Brothers prescient when they wrote the following lines for Fairouz:

"what goes on
in the land of festivals
strewn as it is with fire and dynamite
I said our land is being reborn
the Lebanon of dignity whose people perseveres"

From Bhibbak Ya Libnan.

[Jeha]

Partition?

Hell No. We want the whole enchilada; let them go to Iran, or hell, whichever is closer.