🚪Breaking the siege on Lebanon

Originally posted December 17, 2021

This piece was written for a journalism society at one of my schools.

“Hezbollah has won” - New York Times

The first batch Of Iranian oil tankers (carrying diesel) Entered Lebanon on Thursday, September 16. As promised in the televised speech by the Secretary-General (SG) of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hasan Nasrullah, the diesel will first be donated to Red Cross, orphanages, and public hospitals.

In early September, the Iranian ships unloaded their fuel cargo at Syria’s Baniyas port, from where it was transferred to Lebanon via tankers.

Lebanon has been mired since late 2019 in a deep financial crisis that caused the pound to lose around 90 percent of its value to the dollar.

Severe fuel shortages and wide-scale power cuts have paralyzed the Mediterranean country.

The US has exacerbated the crisis by imposing a siege on Lebanon in a bid to force the formation of a Western-friendly administration there.

There’s a severe risk of famine due to the deteriorating economic situation (hyperinflation) and the Beirut blast last year.

There’s a severe risk of famine amidst the economic crisis.

Oil is needed to run hospitals and other public services as the national power grid is unreliable now. It’s also required for vehicles (like ambulances). Currently, it’s being hoarded by some elites and even some officials.

Because of the Caesar Act in 2019/20 (sanctions on Syria) (introduced by Trump, held up by Biden), Lebanon could not import anything from Syria. This is problematic because Lebanon relies heavily on imports, and after the port blast and currency in free fall, its usual chain of imports broke down.

More than 200 people were killed and about 6,500 wounded in the explosion at Beirut’s port. A massive stockpile of ammonium nitrate, which had been stored unsafely at the port for years, had detonated. The explosion has left Lebanon’s economy — already reeling from multiple crises, including the breakdown of its banking system, spiraling inflation, and the coronavirus pandemic — in tatters. Western meddling and the US sanctions have worsened the deteriorating financial and political crisis.

But how did we get here? Why’s the US putting sanctions on Lebanon?

If stability in Lebanon is aligned with US interests, then they would aim for it; otherwise, they would make every effort to destabilize the country from preventing the resolution of political deadlock or economic crisis to actively supporting armed militias (such as the LFP- Lebanese forces party) while dressing itself as a force of good in Lebanon.

After the announcement of oil imports was made last month, The US said it is ready to lift sanctions partially (Caesar act) to allow Lebanon to import electricity and gas through Syria from Jordan and  Egypt.

However, this didn’t materialize, proving that it was just a ploy to stop recourse or energy stability coming from the “wrong” people.

Al Akhbar newspaper also stated that Hezbollah would donate part of the ship’s cargo to government hospitals and care homes. Experts believe this move will increase Hezbollah’s popularity inside and outside Lebanon for taking the initiative to save the Lebanese people from hardships while defending the country’s sovereignty and dignity.

The only land option for trade is Syria for  Lebanon, a small Mediterranean country that has borders with Syria and northern occupied Palestine.

Half of the current officials in the Lebanese cabinet have US passports, and they only went to Syria (after a hostile stance for a long time) because they were allowed by the US. This sad fact was admitted by the officials who were part of the diplomatic mission.

DEEP DIVE INTO THE ECONOMIC SITUATION

The gunfire at the Tayyoune neighborhood on October 14 targeted hundreds of people who had gathered in the vicinity of Beirut’s Justice Palace, calling for the removal of Judge Tarek Bitar, and accusing him of political bias.

Bursts of gunfire were heard coming from the nearby Tayyoune neighborhood, scattering the angry protesters. Clashes between rival factions lasted for hours.

At least seven people were killed in the worst street violence in Beirut in over a decade. Hezbollah and Amal said armed groups affiliated with the Lebanese Forces party, led by Samir Geagea, fired at the protesters from rooftops, aiming at their heads in an attempt to drag Lebanon into new sectarian strife. The Lebanese Forces is a Maronite Christian-based political party. Israel supported it as a militia group during the 1975-90 Civil War. Following the killing spree, Lebanon’s former President Emile Lahoud pointed to the involvement of the Israeli regime and certain mercenaries in the violence.

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun pledged to catch those responsible for the violence and hold them accountable.

“It took us back to the days that we said we would never forget and never repeat,” he said in a televised address, referring to the country’s 15-year civil war from 1975 until 1990.