Lebanon marks 18th anniversary of PM Rafik Hariri's assassination

Lebanon commemorated the 18th anniversary of the assassination of Rafik Hariri.

Thousands of people gathered at the memorial to the former Prime Minister in downtown Beirut, alongside his son, Saad Hariri, sister Bahia Hariri and dozens of political, diplomatic, social, intellectual, and religious figures and supporters of the Future Movement.

After withdrawing from political life about a year ago, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri returned to Beirut for the commemoration of his father. He shared only a few words with the people gathered at the memorial, saying: “May God help Lebanon.”

The security services took strict precautions in the area around the memorial to protect those who flocked to it from neighbourhoods in Beirut and from the north, the Bekaa, and the south.

They raised the blue banner of the Future Movement and chanted in support of Rafik and Saad Hariri.

“No one was held accountable for Hariri’s assassination and no one is being held accountable for the Beirut port explosion.

Many also spoke of their desire for someone to fill the current void in the country’s Sunni political leadership.

The new Sunni representatives in parliament are unable to form an effective or balanced bloc.”

In the southern city of Sidon, the birthplace of Rafik Hariri, people marked the anniversary of his assassination by displaying his picture in the streets with the words: “Eighteen years and Sidon remains loyal. We will not forget, O martyr of Lebanon.”