Independence Day: Military Parade in Beirut and Secret Hizbullah Maneuvers in the South
Lebanese Hizbullah conducted secret military maneuvers north and south of the Litani River Saturday morning, coinciding with a military parade by Lebanese armed forces in downtown Beirut celebrating Independence Day.
The al-Arabiya television network stated on Saturday that Hizbullah is not using any weapons in its maneuvers; rather training its elements on mountain deployments and other military actions.
The television network pointed that the Lebanese party is conducting its maneuvers despite UNSCR 1701, a resolution that bans Hizbullah from south of the Litani River.
Hizbullah did not issue any official response on the issue, as it mostly keeps mum over its military maneuvers and capabilities.
On Saturday morning the Lebanese state celebrated its 65th independence day anniversary, an event that was attended by the President of the republic Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora , Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Lebanese and foreign dignitaries.
Symbolic units from all branches of the Lebanese armed forces participated in the official military parade in downtown Beirut. President Suleiman placed a wreath at the Statue of Martyrs at the beginning of official celebrations.
For the first times since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war in Lebanon two military Hawker Hunter aircrafts participated in the parade. Lebanese military technicians succeeded in rehabilitating and refitting the 1959 aircrafts following a long state of dormancy during the troubled war years.
Helicopter squadrons flew over the military parade carrying the national flag.
At the end of the parade President Suleiman accompanied by Prime Minister Saniora, Parliament Speaker Berri left to Baadda”s Presidential Palace to receive official delegations and citizens congratulating them on the occasion.
The last official military parade in downtown Beirut was held in 2005. It is worth noting that for the first time since the end of the civil war representatives of the Syrian armed forces were not present at the parade celebrations. Syrian forces departed from Lebanon on 26 April 2005.
The 2007 independence anniversary coincided with the end of President Emile Lahoud”s term in office amidst state institutional paralysis; President Lahoud”s allies at the time resigned and boycotted the government leaving the parliamentary majority March 14 Forces alone in government.
In 2006 Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel was assassinated on the eve of Independence Day celebrations; his assassination came as part of a chain of assassinations against major figures opposing Syrian policies in the country beginning with the February 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Harir in downtown Beirut.