Ibrahim Confident Strife Will Be Averted in Wake of Arsal Murder
General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim expressed his confidence that the murder of Mohammed al-Hujeiri in the eastern Bekaa region on Tuesday will not have “security repercussions” in Lebanon, reported As Safir newspaper on Wednesday.
He told the daily that he is “not worried that sectarian strife” will erupt in wake of the crime.
The army and all the apparatuses of the security forces are “completely” prepared to handle the situation.
“Any retaliation to the murder will be made as a personal reaction,” Ibrahim explained.
Mohammed al-Hujeiri, the nephew of Mustapha al-Hujeiri, known as “Abou Taqiyeh”, was murdered on Tuesday by the father of slain soldier Mohammed Hamieh in an act of vengeance.
The father confessed to the crime on television, sparking outrage in the northeastern town of Arsal.
The Hamieh family had accused “Abou Taqiyeh” of having ties to the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front and of involvement in the soldier’s killing.
Hamieh was one of several soldiers and servicemen who were kidnapped by gunmen from the al-Nusra Front and Islamic State groups when they overran Arsal in August 2014.
He was among three soldiers who were eventually executed by the extremist groups.
The majority of the captives have since been released, while nine soldiers are still being held by the IS.
M.T.
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