Army Command: We Won’t Allow Takfiris to Take over Lebanon

Friday, 27 February 2015

Army Command: We Won’t Allow Takfiris to Take over Lebanon

Local Editor

Lebanese army commander Jean Qahwaji

The Lebanese army commander Major General Jean Qahwaji hailed soldiers deployed along the border, in particular the units that participated in operation in the northeastern villages of Ras Baalbek and Arsal.

Speaking to the local Assafir daily, Qahwaji said "this operation in Ras Baalbek barrens is a new achievement carried out by our brave troops."

In comments published Friday, the army commander stressed that the military "proved that it's capable of engaging in battles and achieving victories," two things that "most of the militaries around the world are incapable of engaging in."

Qahwaji stressed that the Lebanese military is ready for all options and "we (the Lebanese military) will not allow the takfiri terrorists to defeat us... It's an open battle.”

The Army chief remarked that "Lebanon is facing terrorism and the takfiri trend, and that military is the sole guarantee for Lebanon's stability and averting danger,” reiterating that the country will not become a terrorist hub.

Also on Friday, Ministry of Defense, accompanied by Qahwaji, have had a tour in eastern Lebanon and have visited the military posts in Ras Baalbek. mainly Om Khaled and Tallat al-Hamra positions.

The army frequently clashes with the militants in their hideouts in eastern Lebanese outskirts near the Syria border.

Syria was hit by a violent unrest since mid-March 2011, where the western media reports accuse countries, mainly the USA, Turkey and Saudi Arabia of orchestrating the civil conflict in the country and providing terrorist groups with money, weapons and trained mercenaries.

Syrian army launched in May 2013 a wide military operations across Syria to liberate town from the occupation of terrorists of the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) and other takfiri groups, who started to infiltrate illegally to Lebanon.