The scene in Beirut on May 28 was surreal. Throngs of Syrian refugees headed to the Syrian Embassy to cast their ballots in a scene beyond all description. The surprise was not only the manifestation of support for President Bashar al-Assad through banners and numbers that exceeded all expectations, but the political meaning, which possessed implications and dimensions surprising to everyone. 

For the last two years, Syrian men, women and children could be seen roaming the streets of Lebanese cities and villages. Furthermore, the Lebanese and foreign media have continuously reported on the suffering of the Syrian people, with Lebanese politicians discussing the impact of the Syrian refugee wave on Lebanon’s security and economy. International institutions and global relief agencies have published report after report on the scope of the tragedy and its impact on Lebanon, where the number of Syrian refugees totals one-third of the population. 

Despite all that, the May 28 scene came as a shock from which the Lebanese have yet to recover. The event took on dramatic proportions and overturned attitudes. It awoke the war demons and reopened unhealed wounds. It turned back the clock, as if the Lebanese civil war had never left this small country.

The first question that came to mind on May 28: Has Syrian tutelage returned? Has it returned through this show of force that resembled a military parade? Everyone was surprised how “Syrian voters” invaded the streets of Beirut. This was not a spontaneous event triggered by the Syrian presidential elections, rather, it was an “organized surprise” that sent multiple messages, including that the forces supporting the Assad regime are still present in Lebanon and are highly prepared.