Lebanon following Barak’s Visit: Parliamentary Action, Southern Protests, and Media Escalation
A group of Lebanese MPs and political figures, including Ashraf Rifi, Elias Khoury, George Akees, Camille Chamoun, former MP Adi Abi Lamaa, and the head of the Change Movement party, lawyer Elie Mahfoud, filed a criminal complaint today, Wednesday, before the Public Prosecution of Beirut against Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem.
Lawyer Mahfoud explained that the complaint was submitted as a direct personal claim and that all legal procedures were officially completed.
Legal Motives and Positions
The MPs confirmed that the action was taken as a judicial recourse to protect decisions issued by the constitutional authority. They referred to Qassem’s remarks warning of a “sedition that could lead to civil war,” describing them as “irresponsible,” while emphasizing their confidence in the judiciary as the entity responsible for safeguarding freedoms and civil peace through constitutional and legal procedures within the established legal framework.
US Envoy Tour of Southern Lebanon
In this context, US envoy Tom Barak conducted an aerial tour via military helicopter alongside Lebanese Army Commander Rudolf Heikal this morning to assess the security situation and support the implementation of the government plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament.
During the tour, Barak emphasized the importance of coordination between the Lebanese army and international parties to ensure southern stability. He also met with President Joseph Aoun, the heads of parliament and government, and other officials.
Lebanese Official and Public Reactions to Barak
Separately, the presidency of Lebanon issued a statement on Tuesday evening expressing regret over the comments made by the US envoy.
The statement came hours after Barak held a press conference at Baabda Palace in Lebanon, which sparked widespread public criticism on social media due to his manner of addressing Lebanese journalists, including saying before the conference began: “Be silent for a moment… the moment the situation becomes chaotic and animalistic, we will leave.”
ما صدر عن #توم_باراك اليوم مُستهجَن، ولا ينتقص من مكانة #الصحافة_اللبنانيّة، بل يكشف مدى انهيار صورة الديبلوماسية الغربيّة وانحطاطها في أبسط قواعد الاحترام والتخاطب الدبلوماسي!
فالصحافة في #لبنان، رغم كلّ الصعوبات، تبقى ركيزة الحرية وصوت الناس. أمّا ذهنيّة الاستعلاء والتعاطي… pic.twitter.com/4ULVV0gPpj— بولا يعقوبيان (@PaulaYacoubian) August 26, 2025
Protests in the South and Cancellation of Visits to Tyre and Al-Khiyam
Continuing public reactions in southern Lebanon, media sources reported the cancellation of Barak’s visits to Tyre and Al-Khiyam after crowds gathered in Al-Khiyam square in a protest, raising Hezbollah flags to express rejection of the US envoy’s positions and tours following his arrival at the Francois al-Hajj barracks in Marjeyoun.
Earlier, Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani affirmed during his visit to Beirut in mid-August that Iran is ready to continue its political support for Lebanon in the event of any security escalation, upon request from the government.
For more details on Larijani’s visit to Lebanon, click this link.
