Charbel: Security situation in Sidon very critical

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel warned on Saturday that the security situation in Sidon is “very critical”, adding that what is happening is “an introduction to what happened in 1975 with the assassination of leader Maarouf Saad”.      

“We were about to repeat what happened in 1975 due to many factors that should have been tackled before evolving”, he said following a meeting he headed for the Sub Security Council in Sidon.    

Charbel stressed that he is addressing the situation “wisely and cautiously” to prevent any possible explosion, adding that security apparatuses need a political cover that would help them chase security violators.        

Charbel said that he will not allow any revengeful act against the partisans of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, warning that any security deterioration in Sidon will have an impact on all of Lebanon. “Therefore, only dialogue can ease sectarian and instinctive tensions”, he said.        

Charbel urged the government to hurry and tackle anything that could undermine the country’s stability, considering that, without the ongoing political divide and political cover, “no one would have dared to cut off roads.”