Lebanon replaces intelligence chief in Hezbollah stronghold

A major reshuffle in the Lebanese army's intelligence branch has replaced the head of its office in Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, just days after the cabinet voted to disarm the Iran-backed group.

Colonel Samer Hamadeh has been appointed to succeed Brigadier General Maher Raad, who has held the position since 2017, sources told The New Arab.

Raad has been reassigned to the army's inspectorate general at the Ministry of Defence, a shift the military describes as part of "routine" personnel rotations that can be prompted by operational, disciplinary, or other needs, the sources said.

The reshuffle comes as Lebanon's government moves ahead with plans to enforce exclusive state control over weapons, tasking the army with drafting an implementation plan by the end of the year under a framework for halting hostilities with Israel.

The Beirut southern suburbs post is considered highly sensitive, particularly as Raad is seen as close to Hezbollah parliamentary bloc leader Mohammad Raad.

According to a military source, the reshuffle order is 17 pages long and lists about 119 names, covering changes not only in Beirut but also in the Bekaa Valley and other regions, including brigade commanders and heads of military clubs.

The change follows a series of measures in recent months, especially since a ceasefire with Israel took effect on 27 November, accompanied by increased US demands on Beirut.

These have included staff changes at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport and in state institutions, affecting posts previously held by Hezbollah supporters or affiliates.

Pro-Hezbollah activists have dismissed claims that Raad was removed, saying he was given a post of equal importance. Opposition voices, however, have linked the move to the new government’s efforts to curb Hezbollah’s influence in major state institutions amid heightened international scrutiny.

The reshuffle comes amid warnings of possible tension between the army and Hezbollah, particularly as the army implements a US-drafted weapons-control plan and moves to prevent unrest during Hezbollah-backed street protests.

Since Thursday night's cabinet session, which voted to back a US proposal drafted by Washington's envoy Tom Barrack, the army has imposed heightened security measures in parts of Beirut, the Bekaa, and the south, coinciding with nightly rallies by Hezbollah supporters opposing the government's endorsement of the plan and rejecting Hezbollah's disarmament.

Soldiers have set up fixed checkpoints at key intersections in the southern suburbs of Beirut and closed entry points between politically sensitive areas to prevent clashes.

In a statement on Saturday, the Lebanese army warned against "ill-considered" actions that could endanger security, stating it respects the right to peaceful protest but would not tolerate disruptions to public order, damage to property, or breaches of civil peace.

Separately, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met Army Commander General Rudolf Hekel on Tuesday to discuss recent developments.

Earlier in the day, Hekel visited the army’s engineering regiment headquarters in Al-Warwar, offering condolences for soldiers killed in an explosion while inspecting an arms depot in the Wadi Zebqine area of Tyre in southern Lebanon.

He said their sacrifices helped protect Lebanon’s unity and security, pledging the military would continue to fulfil its mission despite challenges.

"Thanks to your efforts and sacrifices, the army will remain the nation’s safety valve," Hekel told troops. "We will not hesitate to shoulder our national responsibilities with determination and resolve, honouring the blood of our martyrs."