🔶 Lebanon’s foreign minister activities in the shadow of Hezbollah threats

A Lebanese newspaper, Al-Nahar, reported that Youssef Raji, Lebanon’s foreign minister and one of the toughest opponents of Hezbollah within this country’s government, after security warnings and threats, no longer goes to his office and is working from home these days.

According to some informed sources whose identities have not been disclosed, due to his strong opposition to Hezbollah and his demands for the organization’s disarmament, there are concerns about attempts to harm him.

The report says that previously, Raji informed Joseph Aoun, the president of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, the prime minister, and security officials about this situation.

Sources close to Raji said that about two months ago, amid severe security tensions in Beirut and concerns about the possible infiltration of government buildings, he was advised not to go to the foreign ministry. They added that the ministry building is relatively visible and has only a limited number of access routes, making it easier to monitor the minister’s movements or attempt to harm him.

According to Al-Nahar, since then, Raji has continued managing the foreign ministry from his home and has kept his diplomatic activities. He also requested an increase in the level of security protection.

A day before the report was published, Raji confirmed that due to the security warnings he had received, he would no longer go to the ministry. He did not specify where those warnings came from or who might be behind them.