Tayyouneh Clashes: Facts, Roles and Players

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The street violence in and around Tayyouneh on Thursday was reminiscent of the 1975-1990 civil war that involved several of the same players. Who exactly was involved in Thursday's flare-up?

- Amal -

The Shiite movement that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has headed since 1980 is a political party but it also has a militia, which was a major player in the civil war and was the most visible armed force on Thursday.

Hundreds of Amal fighters poured into the streets of its Shiyyah bastion, firing assault rifles and RPGs towards the Christian stronghold of Ain al-Remmaneh.

Among the most senior officials summoned by Judge Tarek Bitar as part of his probe into the August 4, 2020 explosion are two former Amal ministers.

At least three of those killed on Thursday were Amal members.

- Hizbullah -

The Shiite group is a political party with significant representation in Lebanon’s parliament as well as a powerful armed group backed by Iran. It has also been involved in external operations across the region.

Often described as a state within the state, it was the only group to keep its arsenal after the war, arguing it was the best rampart against Israel, a premise that now divides the political class.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the movement's leader since 1992, unleashed a strident attack against Bitar on Monday, accusing him of political bias and demanding he be replaced.

Hizbullah fighters were seen on the streets taking part in the fighting on Thursday, albeit in smaller numbers than Amal.

- Lebanese Forces -

The Christian group headed by Samir Geagea since 1986 was a key player in the civil war.

It morphed into a political party and its leader is the only one who served jail time after the war but it has members and supporters who posses arms in its strongholds in suburban Beirut and in the north of the country.

Hizbullah accused the LF, which supports the port investigation, of being responsible for the deadly sniper fire against anti-Bitar protesters that ignited Thursday's chaos.

The LF issued a statement strenuously denying the accusation and no Christian militiamen were seen on the streets during the violence. Hizbullah and Amal however accused the group of deploying snipers on rooftops and some LF officials have hinted that those involved were residents of Ain el-Remmaneh and not necessarily members of the LF.

- The army -

The army deployed heavily when the violence broke out, blocking the streets around the flashpoint area of Tayyouneh.

It did nothing to disarm or push back the militiamen who deployed en masse, with RPG and rifle fire zipping above its patrols.

The army conducted searches in Ain al-Remmaneh buildings to track down snipers and announced nine arrests late Thursday from both sides -- including a Syrian national -- but the identity of the first shooter remains a mystery.

Comments 3
Missing cedars over 2 years

The army allied the mass armed milita advance to the foreign neigh hood which they do not belong to?
Are these resident supposed to put up with this BS every few months when Shia are unhappy about the cow in the farm not having male born ?

Missing cedars over 2 years

Allowed that is. Not allied

Default-user-icon Zorg (Guest) over 2 years

The army is useless. They are only heroes when it comes to beat peaceful and unarmed people who protested against the ruling mafia since October 17th, 2019.