Ghosn: Qaida Members Infiltrating Lebanon under Guise of Syrian Opposition
Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn on Tuesday warned that al-Qaida members have entered the country through the Bekaa border town of Arsal “under the guise of being members of the Syrian opposition,” noting that he will raise the issue in cabinet.
During a meeting at his office with a delegation of high-ranking Lebanese army officers, Ghosn said: “We have information that certain operations are taking place at some illegal border crossings, especially in Arsal, where weapons and some al-Qaida terrorist elements are entering (the country) under the guise of being members of the Syrian opposition.”
Since the eruption of the uprising against the Syrian regime on March 15, scores of Syrians have fled to Lebanon through illegal border crossings, while the Syrian authorities have justified their frequent violations of the Lebanese borders under the pretext of pursuing “armed terrorist gangs.”
The defense minister said that reining in such incidents was “first and foremost the responsibility of the army and security forces,” but added that “at the same time it is a national responsibility that must be shouldered by all Lebanese parties.”
Ghosn, however, stressed his “confidence in the Lebanese army and its wise command, which at more than a dangerous junction managed to spare Lebanon the winds of strife and divisions.”
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