Sectarian division deepens in Lebanon as tension mounts in Arsal

Writing to Zaman English by Dani Murad

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Partition and tension have risen in Lebanon to unprecedented levels recently, as the repercussions of what happened in the town of Arsal have increased people’s agitation more.

And while some Lebanese called for demonstrations on Friday under the title "No to the slaughter of Arsal," Others faced them in what they called without any periphrasis, “Friday of degrading and eradicating Arsal”, in a clear challenge to the feelings of a wide population of Lebanese who saw the events of Arsal as a deliberate insult and systematic repression.

The tension increased in the town north-east Lebanon on the border with Syria, following recent raids conducted by the Lebanese army in which human violations have been committed against the Syrian refugees, like torching their tents, detaining hundreds of them including women and children in a degrading way.

The army’s raids come after 50 days of the bloody attacks carried out by the army itself with the participation of Hezbollah’s mercenaries against the Sunni town, which is home to thousands of displaced Syrians.

And as an expression of rejection for the recent violations of the Lebanese army, the town of "Arsal" has witnessed angry demonstrations in which the protesters held slogans like: "Abu Malik Foote Foote, Tanousel a Beirut," in an explicit call for "Abu Malik al-Shami" Prince of Qalamoun in " Al Nusra Front "to intervene and save the Syrians from their agony.

Meanwhile, some Lebanese media have stirred the sectarian strife even further, broadcasting a new report in which “Abu Malik” threatens to enter Lebanon, and faces Hezbollah with thousands of fighters, but what is revealed later is that these media relied on an old recording for the “Prince of Qalamoun” and that some of the networks affiliated with the jihadist movement, have used this old recording as a reminder today, in the context of what Arsal has been exposed to.