Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani warned against the consequences of the events on Wednesday in a live address to the Lebanese people. 

Mufti Qabbani openly accused Hezbollah of occupying Beirut after what started as a strike over wage demands degenerated into violence between opposition protesters and government supporters in the Lebanese capital, sparking fears of renewed civil unrest.

“We thought Hezbollah was concerned with resisting Israeli occupation, and yet it (Hezbollah) has begun to occupy Beirut,” Qabbani said. “What happened today was an attack on homeland security and on the security of the Lebanese people in Beirut and other areas ravaged by the occupiers.”

“We look to the Arab world to tell them that Lebanon is being subjected to the domination of the party with external support, under the pretext of resistance,” he continued.

Qabbani denounced Hezbollah’s occupation of the Beirut International Airport. “Here is Hezbollah, occupying Beirut and the Rafik Hariri International Airport, and blackmailing the Lebanese government.”

Qabbani said it was regrettable that the Islamic Republic should rise with the support of “those who strike at Lebanese unity.” The Grand Mufti added that Hezbollah was trying to forge complete hegemony over Lebanon.

The Mufti appealed to the Hezbollah leadership to “withdraw their gunmen from Beirut and fear God.”

“Sunni Muslims are fed up, tired of excesses,” Qabbani stated. He concluded by saying that forewarned was forearmed.

-NOW Staff