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The last of the Syrian troops remaining in Lebanon are withdrawing, ending almost three decades of military and political domination from Damascus.
At the same time, the pro-Syrian head of General Security, Jamil al-Sayyed, has also stepped down. He declared his intention to resign last week, during a UN investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. His departure follows the de facto resignation last week of police chief Ali Hajj, who put himself at the disposal of the interior minister.
Bowing to pressure
Mr Hariri’s death on 14 February this year provoked a wave of protest against the continued presence of troops from Syria, the country which many blame for Mr Hariri’s killing. Damascus bowed to both Lebanese and international pressure when it ordered the gradual withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon.
A token presence will remain in the country until tomorrow, when a symbolic farewell takes place at Rayak; after that the military road linking the countries will be closed and Lebanese troops will take over the Syrian intelligence HQ. Just hours after the ceremony, the United Nations is scheduled to report on Syria’s compliance with Security Council demands for withdrawal, and a second UN team – to investigate Rafiq Hariri’s killing - is due to arrive in Beirut on Wednesday.
Pointing the finger
Radio Netherlands asked George Asseily, Chair of Oxford University’s Centre for Lebanese Studies, what he made of the resignations in the light of the Syrian withdrawal:
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The UN says there were serious flaws in the initial investigation into the killing of Mr Hariri, and now two senior officers have stepped down. Mr Asseily is encouraged by this:
“What’s hoped is that the removal of the chiefs will [allow] other people to speak who weren’t allowed to speak before.”
Getting the people together
Some commentators are against the complete withdrawal of Syria from Lebanon, arguing that this will only increase divisions within Lebanon further. But George Assaily sees the withdrawal as something that can unite the Lebanese people:
| Syria burned documents, knocked down buildings and filled in bunkers as it withdrew from its last military installations in Bekaa. |
Syria – would only get the Lebanese together and nobody in Lebanon is opposed to that.”
He sees the UN investigation as a crucial step towards healing wounds in Lebanese society:
“It is very important because this is what everybody in Lebanon is asking for. Everybody in Lebanon wants to know the truth – the truth being who is behind the killing of the ex-prime minister, and who committed it? The moment some truth comes out, then obviously it will defuse that very unhappy situation.”
| Syria first deployed troops in Lebanon in 1976, the ear after civil war broke out, and tightened its hold in the country when conflict ended in 1990. Damascus directed political and economic life in the country, as well as controlling the security services. |
And, despite scepticism from many sources, Mr Asseily is, in fact, optimistic about the UN investigation proving successul:
“If one has to base one’s conclusions on the past, one would be very sceptical: because up to now, nobody has ever discovered who killed the ex-prime minister or who attempted the murder of minister Hamadi. But hopefully things will have changed, and all we have to do is to hope and to be optimistic that things will change. Whether this will prove right or not only time will tell.”