Bassil Says Lebanon will Defeat Jihadists Despite 'Fierce' Battle
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has warned that the confrontation with terrorists will be fierce but expressed confidence in Lebanon's ability to defeat the jihadists.
In an interview with CNN during his stay in New York on the sidelines of the General Assembly session, Bassil said: “Lebanon will be an essential target for the Islamic State because it contradicts the IS and its allies.”
“I am convinced that we will defeat IS,” he said.
“Lebanon has never lost a battle against terrorist attacks and has always defeated terrorism,” Bassil added.
The foreign minister called for dealing “seriously” with the issue of Syrian refugees from its humanitarian and security aspects.
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned on Friday that Lebanon hosts the highest ratio of refugees per capita in the world and has received far less assistance than needed.
Militants hiding in Syrian refugee encampments in the northeastern border town of Arsal participated in the fighting between the IS and al-Nusra Front with the Lebanese army last month.
The jihadists took with them hostages from the army and police and executed three of them.
But the military was able to confront and deter the jihadists from implementing their plan, Bassil told CNN in the interview late Friday.
He also praised the army for preventing them from occupying the town.
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