(Financial Times-UK) Malaika Kanaaneh Tapper - The Dahiyeh Union of Municipalities, the municipal body for Beirut's southern suburbs, the traditional heartland of Hizbullah that was targeted by Israel during the recent fighting, has been allocated millions of dollars in public funds to oversee and contract damage appraisals and rubble removal. The Dahiyeh Union works under the purview of Hizbullah's political leadership, according to Mohanad Hage Ali, deputy director of research at the Carnegie Center in Beirut. Hizbullah's opponents worry that giving a role in the reconstruction process to the group could allow it to retain political leverage and channel government funds to its base following its worst ever defeat last year. Hizbullah's role in reconstruction following its 2006 war with Israel was vital to helping it shore up its power.
2025-04-15 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive