Crisis Between Defense Minister and Army Chief Amid Heightened Tensions Between Hezbollah and Israel
The disagreement between Lebanon’s caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim and Army Chief General Joseph Aoun is expected to resurface due to Slim’s refusal to approve a class of officers set to graduate soon, according to the Lebanese newspaper “Al-Akhbar.” This development comes at the height of tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, as the specter of war looms over the country.
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According to the same source, the tripartite settlement between Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the army chief, and MP Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, regarding the military academy crisis and the defense minister’s proposal to open a second class to resolve the fate of 118 cadets who passed the first course, did not cool the tensions between the army command and the Defense Ministry.
The strained relationship between the two parties also extends to appointments, the extension of some officers, and the army’s needs such as fuel, in addition to the issue of the decree confirming General Hassan Ouda in his position as Chief of Staff and promoting him to the rank of General not being issued.
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Disagreements between the army chief and the defense minister are expected to escalate next month when Military Council member Brigadier General Pierre Saab is due to retire. Slim insists on extending his mandate, as well as that of Military Council member Brigadier General Mohammad Mustafa for two additional years under Law 317, which allowed the extension of security chiefs, including Aoun.
In another development, residents of southern Beirut, Hezbollah‘s stronghold, have begun fleeing the area fearing a potential war amid escalating tensions with Israel, especially after the recent Israeli strike that killed 7 people, including the prominent Hezbollah leader Fouad Shaker.
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The Lebanese government has announced the preparation of a rigorous plan in anticipation of a wave of displacement, while Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad confirmed the availability of medical supplies sufficient for four months in case of war.
Sources in the health sector stated that Lebanese hospitals are preparing for a war with Israel, noting that medical teams have received training over the past two days in anticipation of a potential confrontation.
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The specter of war looms over Lebanon, which has been suffering from financial, economic, and social crises since 2019, in addition to the Syrian refugee crisis.
Southern Beirut is home to approximately 600,000 residents, but reports indicate that this number has significantly increased with the influx of many Syrian refugees into the area.
Lebanon claims to host about two million Syrians, with less than 800,000 registered with the United Nations, the highest number of refugees in the world relative to the population.
On Thursday, Hezbollah announced the death of prominent leader Fouad Shaker in the Israeli raid on Tuesday, the second Israeli attack on southern Beirut since January 2, 2024, when Israel assassinated Hamas leader Salah Al-Arouri.
In recent days, expectations of a major Israeli escalation have increased, following the death of 12 people on Saturday after a rocket fell in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel since 1967.
While Tel Aviv accuses Hezbollah of being behind the incident and threatens to deliver a “severe blow” to the group, Hezbollah denies any responsibility, despite mutual shelling since October 8, 2023.
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On the ground, the Israeli army announced today, Friday, that it had “detected the launch of several rockets from Lebanese territory, most of which fell in open areas without causing injuries.”
In another statement, the army said its fighters intercepted a rocket fired from southern Lebanon towards the northern occupied Golan Heights, adding that firefighting teams are working to extinguish a fire caused by falling rocket debris, without specifying the location.
