Lebanese chiefs unite to address security

Lebanese leaders convened on Wednesday to heighten collaboration between security organisations on a number of pressing issues. General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi, Director General of State Security Major General George Karaa, Internal Security Forces (ISF) acting Director General Brigadier General Roger Salem, and Armed Forces Director of Intelligence Brigadier General Edmond Fadel attended the meeting at the office of the Director General of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim. Officials claimed to have defeated the vast majority of networks practicing kidnapping for ransom in Lebanon. The ISF have reportedly detained 50 Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian offenders in relation to operations that affected citizens of Lebanon, Syria and the Gulf. Security chiefs suggested that Syrian networks with extensive knowledge of Lebanese businesses and infrastructure continued to pose the greatest threat. The meeting addressed spillover from the Syrian conflict into Lebanon, notably the escalation of violence in Tripoli, where longstanding clashes between pro-Assad regime Alawite Muslims in Bab-al-Tibbaneh and anti-regime Sunni Muslims in Jabal Mohsen have increasingly triggered deadly incidents further afield. Attendees also discussed approaches to the rising popularity of Salafi Sheikh Ahmed Asir, who instigated deadly sectarian clashes between Sunnis and Hezbollah militants in Sidon last November. A participant told Arabstoday that enhanced procedures for arresting and prosecuting offenders were proposed during the meeting, adding that reinforcing border security to thwart smuggling operations was a particular concern.