A state of tension and intense anger prevails in the town of Bcharre following the suspicious killing of Haitham Jamil Al-Hindi Touk in the Shihin area, near Qornet El-Sawda. Shortly after news of his death spread, reports emerged that another young man, Malek Touk, also fell victim to the same crime as he was struck by sniper fire and could not be reached by residents for rescue; his body was later found by the army and airlifted to the hospital.
The Lebanese Army quickly issued a clarifying statement regarding the incident, stating: "On July 1, 2023, one citizen was shot in the Qornet El-Sawda area, leading to his death, and another citizen was killed later in the same region. The army deployed in the area and is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the events. A number of individuals have been detained, and military weapons along with a quantity of ammunition have been seized."
The military leadership had previously warned citizens on June 12, 2023, against approaching the military training area in Qornet El-Sawda, reiterating the importance of staying away for their safety and to prevent similar incidents.
This incident ignited widespread reactions, with MP Strida Geagea emphasizing in a statement that "this heinous crime occurred in broad daylight, and the only solution is to achieve justice and bring the criminals to justice." She called on the families of the victims and the people of Bcharre to "exercise patience and calm while awaiting the investigation's conclusions and the truth."
A significant military presence has been deployed in the region following the incident. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has been following the situation through a series of communications, notably with the Army Commander and relevant security and judicial authorities. Mikati asserted that "this incident is condemned, and those responsible will be pursued and arrested so that the law takes its course and serves as a lesson to others." During a call with MP Strida Geagea, he emphasized the need for everyone to exercise wisdom and to refrain from reactions, especially in this delicate time.
For his part, MP Ashraf Rifi contacted the leader of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, stating: "We confirmed the responsibility of state agencies to arrest and try the perpetrator, handling the repercussions of the crime wisely. Together with Dr. Geagea, we affirmed that the priority is to achieve justice, and we are confident that the goal of the crime is to incite strife between the regions of Bcharre and Dinnieh, which we will confront, as the people of Dinnieh and Bcharre are neighbors and kin. We also agreed that we will not preempt the investigation before the matter is clarified through a prompt, objective, and transparent inquiry."
He added: "This crime is suspicious, having been preceded months ago by the cutting of ski cables, leading us to fear a plotted sedition. We affirm to our people in Bcharre that their martyr is a martyr for all Lebanese, and we stand with them to arrest and try the killer."
MP Faisal Karami condemned the crime and extended condolences to the families of Bcharre, urging the residents of Bcharre and Bqaasifrin to resort to reason and wisdom, making the judiciary the sole reference for resolving the issue.
MP William Touk called on "the people of Bcharre, Joubeh, and its youth to exercise self-restraint," accusing "a lawless group that has overstepped for years, attempting to drag us into an internal conflict we do not want with our kin in Bqaasifrin." He asserted, "This heinous crime was not executed by unknown gunmen but by treacherous snipers lurking within our territory in the 'Martyrs' Summit,' aiming to seize it. This infamous crime would not have occurred were it not for the laxity of judicial authorities in confirming the borders for more than two years."
He stated that "the call for self-restraint does not mean tolerating or underestimating the blood of the martyr; rather, it signifies adherence to our moral and national values and the insistence on securing our rights ourselves if the authorities and relevant agencies fail."
It was reported in the evening that Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri contacted MP Faisal Karami urging him to "exercise wisdom in handling the painful incident that claimed the life of the young Haitham Touk." He also called on the residents of Bqaasifrin and Dinnieh not to be swayed by preconceived judgments and rumors while awaiting the full truth.
MP Toni Franjieh expressed condolences via Twitter to the families of Bcharre and the Touk and Sukkar families, "who lost young men from their finest." He added that "the conflict reaching a bloody level could have been avoided had it not been for negligence and procrastination."
The Minister of Information in the caretaker government, Ziad Al-Makary, also commented on the Qornet El-Sawda incident via his Twitter account, stating: "The wound in Bcharre is bleeding, and we are all united in this hurt. What occurred today is a heinous crime, and souls will not find peace until the state fulfills its duties regarding apprehending the killers to achieve justice."
Al-Makary called on "the Lebanese Army and all security and judicial agencies to swiftly uncover the crime to prevent strife." He urged media outlets to "exercise caution and return to competent security references before publishing any information due to the sensitivity of the situation." He concluded, "Bcharre is in our hearts, and all condolences to the Touk family."
