Hezbollah Lebanon Cancels Quds Day Ceremony Due to Security Concerns

Following suicide attacks on a Christian village in Lebanon near the Syrian border, Hezbollah announced on Thursday that it is canceling the Quds Day ceremony in southern Beirut due to security concerns. According to the Associated Press, Hezbollah stated that the Quds Day program scheduled for Friday is canceled due to 'security conditions.' This marks the first time Hezbollah has not held the Quds Day ceremony. Hezbollah militants play a crucial role in the Syrian civil war, supporting Bashar al-Assad's government against its opponents. Since Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian civil war, areas in Lebanon, particularly Shiite regions, have been targeted by Islamist groups. Areas such as the Shiite neighborhood of Dahieh in southern Beirut have been attacked multiple times during this period. Hours before Hezbollah's announcement, the Lebanese army reported that it had thwarted two operations by the Islamic State group aimed at attacking a major tourist site and a crowded area. According to the Lebanese state news agency, the army's statement said: 'The Lebanese Army Intelligence managed to thwart two very dangerous terrorist operations by the ISIS terrorist group. These operations were intended to target a major tourist site and a crowded area.' The statement added: 'Five terrorists, including the mastermind of these operations, have been arrested. They confessed to carrying out terrorist attacks against the army in the past. Investigations are ongoing under judicial supervision.' In recent weeks, especially following the suicide attacks on the village of al-Qaa near the Syrian border that resulted in the deaths of five people, the Lebanese government has increased its security alert due to the potential terrorist threat. In this context, Tammam Salam, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, expressed concern about a new wave of terrorist operations. The Islamic State group and the al-Nusra Front, affiliated with al-Qaeda, briefly seized the city of Arsal in Lebanon in 2014, but the Lebanese army forced them to retreat.