Minister of Interior: Security Forces Ready to Ensure Safety on Christmas Eve

Interior and Municipalities Minister in the caretaker government, Bassam Mawlawi, stated that they "discussed the security plan for the holidays and addressed other security issues in the country." He confirmed in a press conference following a Central Security Council meeting that "the Internal Security Forces will be vigilant to penalize anyone who fires gunshots during the New Year celebrations." He also emphasized that "the security forces are prepared to ensure safety on Christmas Eve, with 462 officers, 6,872 personnel, and 292 patrols deployed." Regarding the Syrian displacement issue, Mawlawi noted, "The Ministry of Interior has previously issued strict and severe directives to combat the presence of illegal Syrian refugees, which has reached numbers far beyond Lebanon's capacity to bear. I would like to mention that the General Security has received data on Syrian displaced persons from the UNHCR and is working to study it seriously. We will follow up on the Kfarhladha issue in Batroun to protect Lebanon and the Lebanese, in line with the laws. We will operate within two boundaries: the humanitarian and the legal, under the mandate of Lebanon's interest to protect its image and identity, while adhering to the law and human rights, and we emphasize the plan for the safe return of Syrian displaced persons."