Qahwaji Says Army Foiled Plot to Ignite Lebanon, Create Sectarian Strife

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stressed on Tuesday that the military foiled a plot by terrorist groups to divide Lebanon and change its features, thwarting a Sunni-Shiite strife that “could have burned the country.”

“The army achieved a huge accomplishment,” As Safir newspaper quoted Qahwaji as saying.

He pointed out that the situation in Lebanon has changed from the one that prevailed before the clashes that occurred in the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.

Jihadists from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front briefly overran the town of Arsal in August. The Islamists withdrew from the town, abducting with them a number of troops and security forces.

Three hostages have already been killed by their captors, and the country has been on edge for months over the fate of the remaining soldiers and policemen.

Lebanon is deeply divided over the war in Syria.

Qahwaji revealed that the army has the full “political cover.”

“The army is united and fortified against any emergency,” the army commander pointed out, considering that the last round of clashes in the northern port city of Tripoli busted all the terrorist cells and “turned the scales.”

The high-ranking military official considered the arrest of terrorists Imad Jomaa and Ahmed Miqati a key issue in thwarting a plot to ignite a Sunni-Shiite strife in Lebanon.

Miqati was arrested in October in the northern town of Assoun during a deadly army raid on an apartment that he and several militants had been residing in.

He was later charged with belonging to an armed terrorist organization with the aim of occupying several northern villages.

His arrest set off the spark that led to a deadly fighting last month between extremists and the army in Tripoli and surrounding areas.

A battle between Lebanese troops and militants in northern Lebanon was widely expected after members of the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's branch in Syria, al-Nusra Front, launched several attacks in areas on the border with Syria.

H.K.

G.K.

Comments 13
Thumb ex-fpm 26 November 2014, 09:42

The ones igniting strife are HA and its allies, period.

Default-user-icon CFTC (Guest) 26 November 2014, 10:05

Que Dieu bénisse nos valeureux Soldats...et qu'Il fasse taire les malheureux remplis de haines (-:

Thumb Mystic 26 November 2014, 10:07

That's not what he said. You shouldn't twist the LAF commanders words.

Default-user-icon mystic@full.disclosure@bill.the.butcher (Guest) 26 November 2014, 11:25

11 downvotes? Lol, oooook yea, those multiples accounts DEFINTIELY are legit lmao!!! This site is such a joke

Default-user-icon CFTC (Guest) 26 November 2014, 11:58

please...mystic@full.disclosure@bill.the.butcher (-: ...don't mix up...you are a joke

Default-user-icon + oua nabka + (Guest) 26 November 2014, 11:37

god bless our army and always remember who stood against our army since 75 they are the evil

Default-user-icon Bousayna (Guest) 26 November 2014, 12:28

We know it as the Samaha Mamlouk plot, Bashar Assad ordered it.

Thumb -phoenix1 26 November 2014, 12:52

General Qahwaji, God bless you, and God bless our beloved army with you at its head. Rest assured, that the overall majority of the Lebanese people are with you, with the army. Our doors and our hearts are open to you, we shall be together under your protection forever. God bless Lebanon and down with the oppressors.

Thumb the_roar 26 November 2014, 13:49

Qahwaji for President ! ..Oh I forgot he was red lined by M14 backers.

Fine job Gen Qahwaji.

Default-user-icon michel aoun, me or no pres. (Guest) 26 November 2014, 13:56

"Qahwaji for President !"

I HATE YOU ROR!

Default-user-icon selective successes (Guest) 26 November 2014, 14:36

Sadly the Lebanese Army are perceived to have been somewhat selective, provocative and biased...aligned with Hezbollah and Assaad's cause..and thus making it hard for those outside this camp to rejoice in their "successes".

Thumb ado.australia 26 November 2014, 17:10

Only perceived by those that are sympathetic to attackers of the LAF! Any group or party that is against the LAF is against the republic of Lebanon! The same excuse was used in the 70s and it is still as treacherous a position as it was then! The LAF is the only truly patriotic and secular institution in Lebanon for Lebanon! God bless the Watan LAF !!

Default-user-icon Naiim (Guest) 26 November 2014, 17:52

Stopping one group from going to fight in Syria but not the other is no a perception it's reality. While both groups are breaking the Baabda deceleration and Hezbollah sponsored Mikati government's so called "na2i 3an el nafs" policy, the group that is not being stopped is the only one of the two groups going to fight in Syria signed both the deceleration and the policy and should be held accountable but isn't. Besides Hassan Nasrallah told all the people who wanted to fight, to go fight in Syria didn't he. My own personal opinion both groups should stay in Lebanon, and have the Lebanese army with UN help control the border.