Although Syria withdrew its military forces from Lebanon, intelligence assets remained, and Syria continues to have a strong influence in Lebanese politics. In November 2006, as Siniora's cabinet neared approval of the Hariri tribunal, pro-Syrian ministers, including all the Shi'ite ministers, withdrew from the cabinet. Led by Hezbollah, pro-Syrian forces began months of massive demonstrations, sit-ins, and occasional violence with the aim of either paralyzing or bringing down the cabinet. Minister of Industry Pierre Gemayel, son of ex-president Amin Gemayel, was assassinated November 21.
==== Unity Government Collapses ====
On January 12, 2011, while Prime Minister Hariri was meeting with President Barack Obama, Hizballah and its March 8 allies withdrew their ministers from Hariri’s national unity cabinet, thereby forcing its collapse. On January 24, President Sleiman named former Prime Minister and member of parliament Najib Mikati as Prime Minister-designate, leaving Hariri and his cabinet in caretaker status. Since late January, Mikati has been attempting to form a government. There is no deadline by which Mikati must present his cabinet to parliament for a vote of confidence.
==In the Bible==