Hariri Leads Mass Rally in Beirut for Feb. 14 Anniversary

On Wednesday, a large crowd gathered in Beirut, Lebanon, to honor the memory of Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister assassinated in 2005, and to call for his son Saad Hariri’s return to politics. Supporters of Saad Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal Movement, identifiable by their pale-blue flags, assembled at Rafik Hariri’s grave in downtown Beirut, showing their support through applause and cheers as Saad Hariri visited his father’s resting place.

Saad Hariri expressed his gratitude towards the attendees and reassured them of his unwavering support, hinting at a possible return to the political scene by emphasizing the importance of timing and his commitment to the Lebanese people.

Having recently arrived from the UAE, where he now resides, Hariri engaged in political discussions in Beirut, stirring hopes among his supporters for his political re-engagement. Attendees at the event voiced their desire for Saad Hariri’s leadership, believing in his ability to restore security, stability, and international backing for Lebanon.

Saad Hariri, propelled into politics by his father’s tragic death in 2005, had previously stepped down as prime minister in 2019 amidst nationwide calls for political reform. In 2022, he announced a withdrawal from politics and did not participate in the parliamentary elections.

Supporters at the rally expressed their belief in Saad Hariri’s unique position to rally Lebanon and attract global support. Despite his residence in the UAE and a strained relationship with Saudi Arabia, which criticized him for his approach towards Hezbollah, Saad Hariri remains a prominent Sunni Muslim leader in Lebanon.

The absence of Hariri from Lebanese politics has left the Sunni community, traditionally a powerful force in Lebanon’s sectarian political landscape, fragmented and weakened. Lebanon itself has been in a state of political stagnation, facing over a year without a president and enduring a severe economic crisis under a caretaker government.

Rafik Hariri, a key figure in Lebanese politics, was killed in a devastating attack that also claimed the lives of 22 others and injured 226. In 2022, a UN-backed court found two Hezbollah members guilty of the bombing, sentencing them to life imprisonment in absentia.