Two aides of government minister Saleh al-Gharib, the state minister for refugee affairs, were killed on Sunday in the incident in the Aley region in what he termed an attempted assassination. Lebanon’s Supreme Defence Council, which includes the president and security chiefs, said it had taken “decisive” measures to restore security to the area and bring to justice those involved. He ultimately canceled the visit, saying he wanted to avoid any security problem. “If the state does not strike with an iron fist there will be negative repercussions in more than one area,” he said. The Chouf witnessed years of fighting between Christian and Druze militias in the civil war, leading to the displacement of the Christian population.

Source: National Post July 01, 2019 12:04 UTC