BEIRUT: Lebanon's Interior Ministry is set to enforce a security plan in Beirut amidst escalating concerns about the proliferation of illegal weapons and the surge of lawlessness in some city areas. The planned crackdown includes recruiting 800 additional personnel and comports with the country's efforts to regulate the status of Syrian nationals residing illegally within its borders. This move gains momentum following the murder of Pascal Sleiman, a Lebanese Forces Party figure, which catalyzed resentment toward the Syrian community in Lebanon, and led the Lebanese Army to detain several individuals accused of people smuggling in an operation on the Syrian border.

The General Security Directorate has taken a stern stance on Syrian refugees' regularization, threatening legal action against non-compliant individuals. The Lebanese caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi emphasized the weighty role the Syrian presence plays in national security, pointing to an estimated 2.3 million Syrian refugees, most of whom are considered economic, not political refugees, and therefore, Lebanon cannot sustain their stay. The General Security Directorate is also curtailing the operation of illegal Syrian businesses and enforcing labor laws more strictly.

The Lebanese government seeks support from the European Commission, securing a €1 billion aid package for border control and refugee management, amid caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati's discussions with European leaders over facilitating refugee return to 'safe' areas in Syria. Within this context, independent MP Ghassan Skaf acknowledged the Syrian refugee crisis as an existential issue but cautioned against populist and xenophobic approaches.

In an overlapping but distinct sphere, Irish expatriates in Lebanon face uncertainty, with near-daily confrontations between Israeli forces and Hezbollah near the Irish troop-stationed south. Those involved in Lebanese business and tourism sectors, like Aisling McConway, underscore the dire economic conditions, including a steeply devalued local currency and increased armed robberies. McConway, involved in a mobile payments initiative, contrasts the once bank-reliant Lebanese now suspicious of financial institutions to the entrepreneurial spirit cultivated during her tenure in Ghana. Amidst these challenges, Lucy Turner, an influencer and tourism advocate, confronts the precarious balance of representing Lebanon favorably while acknowledging the real risks of conflict and unrest.

On the health front, Lebanon's caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad expressed alarm over jaundice and skin rash spreads in Syrian camps due to inadequate water and sanitation and called upon the international community to uphold its responsibilities, hinting at financial aid cutbacks affecting refugees' healthcare.

Contrary to the government's hardline approach on illegal residents, vigilance against increasing sectarian animosity and potential inter-communal conflict is paramount, especially in light of alleged crimes implicating Syrians and Hezbollah's impact. The alarming rise in anti-Syrian sentiment and actions following Sleiman's assassination testifies to the fraught coexistence within Lebanon.

Furthermore, border tensions perpetuate as Lebanese military sources report clashes with Syrian smugglers, highlighting the ongoing smuggling of subsidized basic goods from Lebanon to Syria and underscoring the need for effective border control against such illicit activities.