Moqbel Extends Terms of Top Army Officials for a Year
Defense Minister Samir Moqbel has extended the terms of the Army commander, the chief of staff and the head of the Higher Defense Council, a move that is expected to draw the anger of Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.
Moqbel took the decision to make the one-year extension late Wednesday after the cabinet failed to resolve the controversial issue of the appointment of high-ranking military and security officials.
Army chief of staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman was due to retire Friday. Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji’s term ends on Sept. 23.
Moqbel is expected to make a formal announcement on the decision on Thursday morning.
Aoun, who has been calling for making new appointments, is likely to take escalatory measures following the decision.
FPM sources said the movement had no information about such a move because the rival officials were still holding consultations to reach a settlement on the appointments.
“The extension will be met with more escalatory measures. Aoun will not back off,” the sources told al-Akhbar.
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