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There’s a growing resentment of #Hezbolla, in #Damascus, among #Syria security officials they are noting its increasing intervention in their day-to-day affairs, some of which are as petty as releasing Hezbollah suspects involved in criminal activities.
There’s a growing resentment of #Hezbolla, in #Damascus, among #Syria security officials they are noting its increasing intervention in their day-to-day affairs, some of which are as petty as releasing Hezbollah suspects involved in criminal activities.
The logic is that they didn’t fight for 8 years "to protect the authority of the state" only to let a non-state actor undermine that same authority.
For example, last month, a sting operation netted a cross-borders antiquities smuggling ring.
For example, last month, a sting operation netted a cross-borders antiquities smuggling ring.
Among them were two Hezbollah members, M. Kourani and T. Mortada. They were found in possession of Syrian Security ID cards but with different names. As per procedure, their case was treated as criminal and legal proceedings began.
A few days later, however, #Hezbollah’s coordination officer came to pick them up from the branch. This was regarded as highly irregular as the suspects must either be tried in #Syria or handed over to #Lebanon security authorities.
The Syria officer in charge was forced to hand over the suspects and they were taken to Lebanon. Their fate isn't known but it was reported in the media that Hezbollah maintains his own prisons to discipline its members' infractions.
This isn’t a one-off for there are numerous such examples.
The most high profile case of was the 2015 kidnapping of Hannibal #Gaddafi.
#Damascus had offered him a safe haven with his family. As a courtesy, it also allowed a former Lebanese MP to debrief Hannibal.
The most high profile case of was the 2015 kidnapping of Hannibal #Gaddafi.
#Damascus had offered him a safe haven with his family. As a courtesy, it also allowed a former Lebanese MP to debrief Hannibal.
The former MP was investigating the 1978 #Libya disappearance of his father along with Cleric Moussa Al-Sadr, one of #Lebanon's most prominent national figures.
He, however, concocted a plan with sympathisers from #Hezbollah to kidnap #Gaddafi and smuggle him into Lebanon.
He, however, concocted a plan with sympathisers from #Hezbollah to kidnap #Gaddafi and smuggle him into Lebanon.
#Hezbollah members could perform such a daring feat because of their Syrian-issued security IDs which allow them to go through military checkpoints unhindered. Something Hannibal mentioned in his recent Sputnik interview.
#Damascus was furious at what it considered a "betrayal" & made semi-official calls to secure Hannibal's release, to no avail. It then decided to escalate the issue and released all the information it had on the kidnapping to #Lebanon authorities.
The information it provided led to the arrest of the former MP on kidnapping charges and his imprisonment for 7 months before he was released on bail.
Hannibal Gaddafi, on the other hand, was remanded in custody without trial.
Hannibal Gaddafi, on the other hand, was remanded in custody without trial.
#Damascus recently enlisted #Russia's help to secure Hannibal's release, encourage by the latter taking over the #Libya file alongside UAE and Egypt. Sayf-al-Islam, Hannibal's brother, has also asked Russia to intervene ahead of him reportedly running for presidency.
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