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Khaddam: Despite My Warning, Hariri Decided to Stay in Lebanon for Electoral Reasons, He Was Killed 6 Days Later
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Khaddam: Despite My Warning, Hariri Decided to Stay in Lebanon for Electoral Reasons, He Was Killed 6 Days Later

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam urged late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri to leave Lebanon immediately six days before his assassination in 2005.
  • Khaddam's memoirs reveal Hariri's anxiety about his security and his decision to stay for upcoming elections, despite warnings.
  • Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005, shortly after Khaddam's visit and his own concerns about reduced security.

Six days before his assassination, late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was urged by former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam to leave Lebanon immediately due to growing dangers. Khaddam recounts their February 8, 2005, meeting in his forthcoming memoirs, detailing Hariri's apprehension and his reasons for remaining in the country.

Khaddam's memoirs, set to be published in early September, reveal that during their lunch meeting, Hariri expressed anxiety about his security situation. He noted that his security detail had been reduced from 50 personnel to just six. Hariri also inquired about Maher al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad's brother, who reportedly wanted to mend ties between the brothers and Hariri.

I have elections... how can I leave the people?

— Rafik al-HaririHariri's response to Khaddam's urgent advice to leave Lebanon for his safety.

Despite Khaddam's repeated advice to prioritize his life over the upcoming elections, Hariri stated, "I have elections... how can I leave the people?" Khaddam responded, "Your life is more important than the people, and your family is more important than the elections." Hariri was killed six days later, on February 14, 2005, in a massive explosion in Beirut that targeted his convoy.

Your life is more important than the people, and your family is more important than the elections.

— Abdul Halim KhaddamKhaddam's reply to Hariri's statement about prioritizing elections over personal safety.
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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