What occurred yesterday, Wednesday, in the al-Kahala area is not a trivial matter, and it is not the first incident of its kind. The Rashaya area has witnessed a similar incident, and in a different manner, the Khalde area has also experienced unrest. Similarly, what happened in Tayouneh involved different reasons, yet the similarities are prominent and alarming.
This Thursday morning, the Lebanese Army managed to reopen the international road, although some earthen barriers remain in place. The events of last night have become a point of focus on the agenda among political, security, and military leaders to contain the incident due to the area's sensitivity, coinciding with various incidents in other regions—starting with the ambiguities surrounding the Forces-affiliated official in Ain Ebel at the southern border, Elias Al-Hasrouni, following the ramifications of the tense security situation due to clashes in Ain el-Hilweh camp.
Regarding the incident's details, the military prosecutor has started the investigations, which will later determine the authorized party to continue the investigation according to their jurisdiction. Surveillance cameras were collected to identify who fired first and the content of the load. Security sources mentioned that two individuals were killed on Wednesday during an exchange of gunfire between members of Hezbollah and residents of al-Kahala after a Hezbollah truck overturned. The forensic doctor examined the bodies, revealing that Fadi Bajani was killed by multiple bullets.
Both sides exchanged accusations of igniting the bloody clash while security forces and army vehicles spread across different points close to al-Kahala, such as Qamatia and the road leading to Aley. The army removed the truck from al-Kahala around 1:30 a.m. Hezbollah stated that the truck belongs to them and accused "militias" in the area of attacking its crew, claiming that one of the men "tasked with protecting the truck" was injured before later succumbing to his injuries. They added that gunfire was exchanged with the "attacking gunmen," but they did not mention the truck's cargo.
The local office of the Lebanese Forces accused armed individuals accompanying the truck of firing at civilians, resulting in the death of a man identified as Fadi Bajani (64 years old), a Christian resident of al-Kahala. His son, Joseph, recognized him and told Reuters that both tried to approach the truck after it overturned. He continued, "We were about a meter away, but we couldn't see what was inside the truck. There were at least three people shooting at it—two with machine guns and one with a shotgun. My father fell to the ground, and I couldn't reach him. When I got back three minutes later, he had died and was not breathing."
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati spoke with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and urged for "calm and wisdom" while official investigations are conducted.
### Army Statement
The military issued a statement from the Army Command - Orientation Directorate on the events: "On 9/8/2023, following the overturning of a truck carrying ammunition on the public road in al-Kahala, a conflict occurred between the truck's escorts and the locals, resulting in two fatalities. An army unit arrived at the scene and worked to contain the situation. The truck’s cargo was transferred to a military center, and investigations commenced under the supervision of the competent judiciary.
On 10/8/2023 at 4 a.m., the unit lifted the truck and reopened the road in both directions, while the military continues to monitor the situation and take appropriate security measures."
### Daughter of Bajani
After her father's death in the al-Kahala incident on Wednesday, Jennifer Bajani, the Archive Department Director at OTV, posted a picture with her father and remarked, "You are my heart's beloved."
