Hariri Says Army is a 'Red Line,' Rejects 'Destructive Takfiri' Plans
Al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri has expressed full support for the Lebanese army and security forces, saying he stood by them to regain control of the northeastern border town of Arsal.
“Neither the state nor us would stand idle to the destructive plots of Takfiri groups,” Hariri told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published on Monday.
The former prime minister said the terrorists “have no choice but to withdraw from the town,” which has been witnessing severe gunbattles between the Lebanese army and Syria-based terrorists.
Arsal is home to 40,000 residents and 120,000 Syrian refugees.
The attack began Saturday as the rebels made a cross-border raid into Arsal, some 90 kilometers from Beirut, after the army detained Syrian Imad Ahmed Jomaa, who identified himself as a member of the terrorist al-Nusra Front.
The Front is one of the most powerful groups fighting to overthrow the rule of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
“Al-Mustaqbal movement considers the Lebanese army and the rest of the security forces a red line,” Hariri told the newspaper. “The attack on them is prohibited.”
“We hold onto our stance from the takfiri groups,” he added.
Hariri said he stood by the army and security forces “to regain control of the town of Arsal which has remained steadfast … because its residents have no option but the state.”
Hariri is expected to issue a detailed statement on the Arsal fighting soon, al-Mustaqbal sources said.
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