Six Noteworthy Stories You Might Have Missed in Lebanon This Week (12/29)

1. Car Bomb Kills Mohammad Chatah in Beirut

(Photo via Facebook)

Former Finance Minister and Hariri aide Mohammad Chatah was one of seven people killed Friday morning after a car bomb went off in the area of the multi-building Starco complex just before 10:00 a.m.. Chatah previously served as Lebanon’s ambassador to the US from 1997 to 2000. According to the Daily Star, among those killed was Chatah’s bodyguard identified as Mohammad Tarek Badr. Chatah was reportedly on his way to a March 14 coalition meeting at Hariri’s residence. He was 62-years-old.

2. Mohammad Chaar Passes Away after Starco Bombing

(Photo via Facebook)

Mohammad Chaar, 16, was submitted to AUBMC on Friday after being severely injured in the Starco blast. He succumbed to his injuries a day later. Chaar’s death was highlighted as particularly tragic after a photo he and his friends took just moments before the explosion went viral on the internet. His funeral will take place on Sunday at Al Khachekji mosque.

3. Marwan Charbel Honors Airport Employee

(Photo via the Daily Star)

On Monday, Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel honored a man only identified as Anwar, an employee who found $10,000 in a package and gave it to the Internal Security Forces at the airport. The money was later returned to its original owner.

4. Blast Wounds Hunter, Kills Dog in South Lebanon

(Photo via the Daily Star)

According to the Daily Star, Hassan Hamieh was severely wounded on December 25 and his hunting dog died when a cluster bomb left by Israel’s Army exploded in South Lebanon.

5. Bomb in Assir Supporter’s Car Explodes

(Photo via Naharnet)

According to Naharnet, a car bomb rocked the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh on Wednesday December 25, the driver of the bombed car was later identified as Mohammed al-Baltaji, a supporter of Sheikh Ahmed al-Assir.

6. Four Men Killed Over Family Dispute in Bekaa

(Photo via LBCI)

On December 22, four citizens, two from the Janbayn family and two others from the Shouman family, were killed and five others were wounded when clashes renewed in the town of Sawiri in western Bekaa after a personal dispute erupted between the two families. A number of soldiers were injured when the army intervened.