Tensions escalated at Kough al-Kahala in Aley on Wednesday after a truck overturned due to excessive load, which was found to be carrying boxes of weapons linked to a political party. Following the gathering of locals to assist the truck driver, awareness of the cargo led to the appearance of party members and the arrival of more than ten Lebanese Army vehicles, while the driver managed to escape. Amid the agitation of the locals, the situation escalated into gunfire reported by Reuters to involve members of "Hezbollah" and local residents, resulting in the death of young Fadi Youssef Bajani, a local resident, while the party mentioned another casualty who was guarding the truck. The Army stated that "the load from the overturned truck has been transferred to an army vehicle," and that it sealed off the main road to prevent entry by unauthorized individuals.
The head of the Kough al-Kahala municipality, Jan Bajani, held "Hezbollah" directly responsible for the gunfire directed at young Fadi Bajani, noting that he was broadcasting live from the scene prior to his death. Videos circulated on social media show the moment of Fadi Bajani's death. While the Army took over the transfer of the overloaded wooden boxes, locals continued to refuse to open the road as long as there was bloodshed from a young man from their town.
Security sources informed Reuters that two people were killed on Wednesday in clashes between "Hezbollah" members and residents of a Christian town after locals surrounded the overturned truck. The clashes occurred near the mountainous town of Kough al-Kahala. One source indicated that the Lebanese Army cordoned off the truck, whose contents remained unknown. Another security source noted that the Army's heightened alert at the truck's accident site stemmed from the need to ensure the town's security, as the ammunition could be sensitive and an explosion might lead to disaster.
In a statement, the residents of Kough al-Kahala were careful not to name the party linked to the truck but demanded that the state secure justice for the slain young man: “We have closed the international road in both directions until those responsible are arrested and held accountable.” The village mayor, Abdo Abi Khalil, stated, “We will not open the road; immediate accountability is required.” Eyewitnesses reported that "three SUVs belonging to 'Hezbollah' arrived at the scene, where party members opened fire, injuring a young man from the area."
Prime Minister Najib Mikati monitored the developments of the incident that occurred in the Kough al-Kahala area this evening with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun. The Prime Minister requested the swift continuation of the investigations to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the incident while taking necessary field measures to control the situation.
The police commissioner in the Kough al-Kahala municipality clarified, “We will not allow the raising of the truck; we have lost a martyr who fell on the steps of the church after they fired at us.” "Hezbollah" confirmed that the truck belonged to them but stated, “We do not know what is inside it, and we have left the matter to the Lebanese Army to handle.”
In a statement titled "For Those Whose Memory Has Failed Them, Kough al-Kahala is a Passage for Freedom and Legitimacy Only," the Lebanese Forces issued a statement from the Aley region saying: "Once again, the Lebanese people pay the price of security chaos and the spread of illegal arms, and this time the proud Kough al-Kahala was a stage for a display of excessive power and direct fire towards civilians gathering after the truck overturned, believed to be carrying weapons, revealing that an armed group accompanied it and opened direct fire on civilians, leading to the martyrdom of Fadi Youssef Bajani, who was trying to rescue the driver."
The Lebanese Forces in the Aley region urged security forces, especially the Lebanese Army, to take action by arresting the shooters, securing the truck, conducting necessary investigations, and preventing any manifestations of militia lawlessness. They affirmed that Kough al-Kahala will not be a playground for armed gangs and that the blood of Kough al-Kahala's youth, from Jou Bajani to Fadi Bajani, along with the blood of all Lebanese from Kough al-Kahala to Ain Ebel, is very precious and will not be allowed to go in vain.
To avoid street unrest, reports indicate that the army has been deployed in several areas, including Shiah and Ain al-Rummaneh.
