A new violation of national sovereignty in Arida kills a boy and wounds two

 

The current week ends with incessant Syrian-Iranian violations of Lebanon's sovereignty. The latest example, following the dangerous statement made by the head of Iran's Quds Force Brig. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, is the Syrian Navy's attack on a fishing boat with three people aboard. Fadi Hamad, Khaled Hamad and their nephew Maher, who hail from the northern village of Arida, were fired at, detained, and taken to Syria. 

 

President Michel Sleiman immediately condemned what happened, stressing the need for each country to respect the other's sovereignty, and asking the Syrian authorities to hand over the people in the fastest way possible. 

 

After the incident, Arida residents blocked roads with burning tires and urged the Lebanese government to shoulder its responsibilities and work to release the kidnapped amid information that the 13-year-old boy Maher was shot and killed, while the other two were wounded.

 

Al-Hayat

 

Damascus speaks of a boat smuggling arms after one boy was killed, another was wounded and a third was detained

 

A new Syrian violation of Lebanon's borders Saturday morning resulted in the death of a boy, while one person was wounded and another was detained by Syrian authorities after a Syrian navy vessel shot at a Lebanese fishing boat off the coast of the northern town of Arida in Lebanon's territorial waters. The incident created a tense atmosphere on the border. 

 

Residents of Arida blocked roads and burned tires in protest, while in Syria the military was placed on alert when the Syrian News Agency said the boat was smuggling arms into Syria. 

 

The press office of President Michel Sleiman said the president followed up on the incident with Prime Minister Najib Mikati as well as ministers and security officials, and condemned what happened. 

 

Sleiman stressed the need for each country to respect the other's sovereignty, urging better cooperation between the two sides to prevent similar incidents from occurring. He also asked the Syrian authorities to release the kidnapped as soon as possible and begin an investigation into the matter.

 

Sources confirmed to Al-Hayat that the three men were from a poor family and were fishing within Lebanon's terrestrial waters.

 

An-Nahar

Sources close to Mikati say his relationship with Bikirki is good, with which he maintains continuous communication

Hariri’s leg fracture and recovery will not affect his decision to return

Popular protests continue against deteriorating social services, including the loss of diesel heating fuel in several areas. Residents from the northern border area protested the Syrian navy's seizure of a Lebanese fishing boat with three people aboard whom the Syrians had shot, leading to the death of a boy, Maher Hamad, 16, and the wounding of his uncle. The boat was taken from Lebanese territorial waters to the coastal Syrian city of Tartous. The incident triggered widespread protests, with local residents adamantly demanding they be heard and calling for the return of the three citizens to their village.

Responding to the incident, President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati made statements calling for the return of the fishermen to Lebanese territory. Syria contended that the boat was being used for smuggling.

Mikati’s office has also emphasized its “good relationship” with Bkirki, in order to clarify any confusion. Sources close to him said that communication between the two serves the national interest.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is recovering in France from a fractured leg, which he injured while skiing in the country. He has received a flood of phone calls from Lebanon’s political figures, included MP Walid Jumblatt, and Arab figures such as Qatar's Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassam. Hariri says that his recovery will not affect his decision to return to Lebanon soon.