Ruling ends Zeaiter control of Afqa River challenging Hezbollah

Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi revoked two preliminary permits granted to brothers Mahdi and Hussein Ali Zeaiter to occupy part of the public river property in Afqa. He also ordered the encroachments removed and the site restored.

The permits were issued in 2024 under former minister Walid Fayad, supposedly to provide access to private property. However, the ministry later found that ownership had not been proven and that the occupation exceeded its stated purpose, ultimately preventing public access.

The case highlights how public property can be seized for private influence. Saddi’s decision now reverses the permits and demands the site’s restoration.