Yesterday, the former Syrian Vice President, Abdel Halim Khaddam, suffered a health setback while delivering a speech during the commemoration of the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rashid Karami, in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. He fainted in front of the audience, and initial assessments of his health condition varied, suggesting the possibility of a heart attack, stomach inflammation, intestinal obstruction, or a state of “excitement.” A Syrian official spokesperson later confirmed that Khaddam’s health condition was stable and that he could leave the hospital within hours. However, medical sources in Lebanon later stated that he would spend the night in the hospital to complete medical examinations. Lebanese doctors reported that his health condition had become entirely stable. Several prominent Lebanese politicians gathered at the hospital to check on Khaddam’s health, as he oversees the Lebanese file. The Lebanese Minister of Tourism, Dr. Karam Karam, a physician at the American University Hospital in Beirut, stated after visiting Khaddam that the former Syrian Vice President was suffering from stomach and intestinal inflammation and would remain in the hospital for a few hours. Karam explained that Khaddam had experienced a minor health incident resulting from intestinal obstruction, but he had fully regained consciousness and was speaking with visitors. He stated that in such cases, the patient would be monitored for several hours and then allowed to leave the hospital. In response to a question about whether the health issue was related to the heart, Karam, who previously held the position of Health Minister, confirmed that Khaddam’s heart was excellent according to the cardiac tests, radiography, and ultrasound that had been conducted. Khaddam had apologized during his speech for not being able to continue speaking, then collapsed on the ground. This occurred while he was participating in a ceremony to mark the fourteenth anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid Karami in Tripoli. Lebanese television channels, which were broadcasting the event live, immediately cut the transmission when Khaddam fell. Before his collapse, Khaddam had said, “I apologize for not being able to complete my speech because I feel…”
Medical sources reported that Khaddam was immediately transferred to Nini Hospital in Tripoli, where his condition was described as “stable.” Lebanese medical sources indicated that the former Syrian Vice President had gradually regained consciousness after the fainting episode. Dr. Mustafa Alloush, a member of the medical team overseeing Khaddam’s treatment, who is led by the Lebanese Minister of Tourism, stated to the Kuwait News Agency “KUNA” that Khaddam’s fainting was due to a severe drop in blood pressure, which led to extreme fatigue. He added that the crowding inside the hall, the heavy presence of attendees, and the dense smoke that filled the celebration venue, along with the high temperature, contributed to what Khaddam experienced. Alloush clarified that Khaddam remained in the Intensive Care Unit, but his health was stable, and there was no cause for concern. At the same time, Alloush denied the reports claiming that Khaddam had suffered a heart attack that resulted in his fall behind the podium, emphasizing that he would be discharged from the hospital in the coming hours. On the other hand, hospital sources in Tripoli, in a phone statement, stated that the Syrian Vice President fainted due to an “excitement” episode and that “his health condition was good, his heart was normal, and his blood pressure was normal.” A doctor from the hospital, who requested anonymity when speaking to AFP, confirmed that Khaddam would spend the night in the hospital for health monitoring and to complete medical examinations. Khaddam’s wife, who came from Syria, arrived at the hospital to be with him, as reported by the AFP correspondent. The former Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami, the brother of Rashid Karami, immediately canceled the festival held in the Tripoli Fairgrounds in the presence of thousands of people after Khaddam’s sudden fall, which caused chaos and confusion among the participants. Over 50,000 people, including several senior Lebanese officials, were participating in the commemoration ceremony for Karami. Khaddam began his speech by praising the “victory of the Lebanese people over Israel,” referring to the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon in May 2000. His unexpected collapse caused a state of chaos and confusion among the attendees, leading Omar Karami, the brother of the former Prime Minister, to cancel the event. Syria’s official news agency “SANA” reported that the Lebanese President, Emile Lahoud, made a phone call to Khaddam, “inquiring about his health,” and President of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, visited Khaddam at the hospital to check on his health.
