Mashnouq Says Bekaa's Security Plan Takes its Course this Week

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq has said that a much-anticipated security plan for the eastern Bekaa Valley will be implemented in the coming days.

The plan for Bekaa's North will most likely be implemented over the weekend, al-Mashnouq told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published on Tuesday.

Around 1,000 Lebanese troops and 1,000 officers from the Internal Security Forces and General Security are expected to clamp down on criminal activity in the Baalbek-Hermel region.

The area is known to be a safe haven for car-theft gangs and drug dealers, as well as suspects involved in kidnapping people in return for ransom.

Al-Mashnouq revealed that he has also plans to resolve the current situation in the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh that lies near the coastal city of Sidon.

“It is no longer acceptable for it to become a refuge for outlaws particularly those belonging to armed terrorist organizations,” said the minister.

He told al-Hayat that he has held several meetings with the representatives of Palestinian factions in the camp for that purpose.

On the recent campaign to remove party banners and flags from Beirut and several cities, al-Mashnouq said there is no going back on the decision now.

He stressed that security forces are tasked with removing the black banners from the northern city of Tripoli.

He was referring to the slogans of extremists who have pledged allegiance to Syria-based militant groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front.

G.K.

H.K.