A few months ago, the Lebanese were preoccupied with the rise of a new group calling themselves the Soldiers of God, openly opposing Hezbollah. This group re-emerged today, Sunday, through the airport by hacking advertising screens and issuing direct threats against Hezbollah, claiming it "blew up the Port of Beirut and is about to blow up Rafik Hariri International Airport if arms smuggling continues through it."
Although the source of this hacking remains unconfirmed, and the mention of the Soldiers of God may be an attempt to incite discord between Hezbollah and Christians in Lebanon, previous Lebanese reports indicate that the nucleus of the "Soldiers of God" group formed from former prisoners who served as guards for banks to protect them from the anger of Lebanese citizens who burned and vandalized banks due to bankruptcies that ruined many people's savings.
Reports also suggest that the group's membership reaches 300 members, who occasionally display their numbers in the streets wearing black shirts with a winged cross. It seems that the Soldiers of God were the ones who confronted Hezbollah protesters last year when they passed through the predominantly Christian Ain al-Rummaneh neighborhood on their way back from a protest for justice for the victims of the port explosion, leading to armed clashes and fatalities.
On August 23, the café "Madame Om" in the Mar Mikhael neighborhood, east of the Lebanese capital Beirut, was attacked by a group of young men belonging to the organization calling itself the "Soldiers of God," in relation to a theatrical performance titled "Drag Show" being held that night. Videos circulated on social media showing what the "Soldiers of God" did, as some muscular members were seen smashing the café's contents, claiming it promoted "homosexuality," according to the statements of a member of this group in one of the widely circulated videos.
**Soldiers of God: No Enmity Except with Satan**
Groups close to the "Soldiers of God" denied their involvement in hacking the airport advertisements, decrying "being dragged into the vandalism that occurred at the airport," and affirming: "We have no enmity except with Satan."
**The Group's Prohibitions**
They claim to "speak in the name of Christ, defending the Bible and Christianity." Here is what we know about them:
- They emerged in 2020 under a person named Joseph "Jojo."
- Members of the Soldiers of God come from working-class backgrounds and are staunch believers.
- They raise religious slogans and attempt to impose their model in the Ashrafieh area, claiming to protect and defend Christians.
- Their emblem is displayed on the social media accounts of its members, on their cars, motorbikes, and black shirts: a shield with white and red crosses, wings of Saint Michael, and the Bible.
- They oppose secular, communist, and homosexual ideologies.
- They oppose civil marriage.
- They claim to fight against drug use and abortion.
- Their members are characterized by large physical builds and thick beards.
- Opinions about their numbers vary, but dozens can occasionally be seen in the streets wearing black shirts.
Following the hacking incident at Rafik Hariri International Airport, Lebanese people received two text messages on their phones, the first appearing to be sent by the Information Branch and the second from Middle East Airlines. However, these messages have no basis in truth and their source is unknown.
