Naharnet

Qahwaji on Independence Day Urges Military to be Fully Prepared

Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji called on the military on Friday to stay watchful and attentive both on the southern border to confront the Israeli enemy and on the eastern border and inside Lebanon to deter terrorism.

“Stay fully prepared, both on the southern border to confront the Israeli enemy and to adhere to (U.N.) resolution 1701 and on the eastern border and inside to strike terrorism with an iron fist and its sabotaging cells to preserve the civil peace in the country,” said Qahwaji in the order of the day marking Independence Day.

“The attempts of terrorism and its schemes will fail before your vigilance and strong confrontations,” he added.

Lebanon marks on Sunday the 72nd anniversary of the country's independence.

On the soldiers abducted in the northeastern town of Arsal, Qahwaji stressed saying: “We hereby vow to follow up on the case of the kidnapped soldiers and to exert all efforts needed to free them and bring them back to their families and institution.

“The tasks entrusted to the army will never make us forget the suffering of our soldiers who were abducted by terrorist groups.”

Several servicemen have been taken hostage by the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front during clashes with the army in August 2014.

Attempts to free them have failed so far in light of the conditions set by the kidnappers, some include freeing prison inmates in return.

D.A.

M.T.

Source: Naharnet


Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/194954