Bassil from Cairo: Army Chose Ground Operations to Face IS as Airstrikes Proved Insufficient

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil highlighted on Monday the threat of terrorism on Lebanon and the Arab world, urging leaders to take action to face it.

He said: “Airstrikes against the Islamic State group were not enough to combat it, which is why the Lebanese army chose ground operations to face it.”

He made his remarks during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers held in Cairo ahead of an Arab League summit scheduled for March 28.

“The army however needs military and financial support,” added Bassil.

“Our identity is the dearest thing to us in facing terrorism. We have enough heritage and history to prove that we are in the heart of the battle,” he stated.

On the threat the IS poses on the region, he remarked: “Fateful challenges are facing our Arab world.”

“We need an Arab awakening to confront it,” he declared.

Over the past months, the army has waged sporadic clashes with the IS and militants from other extremist groups that are entrenched along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

In August, jihadists overran the northeastern border town of Arsal where it engaged in battles with the army.

It kidnapped a number of servicemen in the wake of its withdrawal from the area after the brief clashes.

A few of the captives were released, four were executed, while the rest remain held.

An international coalition led by the United States began in 2014 launching airstrikes against IS positions in Iraq and Syria, where it has seized large swathes of territory.

M.T.

G.K.

Comments 12
Thumb EagleDawn 09 March 2015, 14:30

waynah Caroline?

Default-user-icon irserst (Guest) 09 March 2015, 14:52

yep the_troar is right, bassil simply hates anything good for Lebanon

Thumb the_roar 09 March 2015, 14:55

lol, missed your wit, FT....well put..& so true lol

Thumb the_roar 09 March 2015, 16:55

wasting money? his last visit to Sth America was one of the most productive visit ever by a Lebanese foreign minister for ex-pats.

But Gabby thinks true leaders = Ahmed Assir & co.

move along geagea-Assir lover...boring hateful man.

Thumb barrymore 09 March 2015, 17:32

How do you define productivity? I hope not by the time you spend on this forum posting nonsense

Missing peace 09 March 2015, 17:04

stupid minister... just stating the obvious! how could the army do otherwise? they are just dong their job in defending Lebanon...

Thumb the_roar 09 March 2015, 17:16

explain the part you were given this God given right to be judge of who's stupid & who's deserving of your genius award?

never mind you're just another pitiful hater..

zzzzz

Default-user-icon jaafar ibn iblees (Guest) 09 March 2015, 17:46

is that your beloved zainib in your avatar?

Missing peace 09 March 2015, 18:28

i am given the right to give my opinion... God has nothing to do with it... you mix everything; no wonder all your neurones are mixed up...
unlike the regimes you praise we still can say what s on our minds here...

and seems you have much in common with this stupid minister, no surprise you feel offended when one dare criticize him ...

and hate has nothing to do here... but as i said before with neurones all mixed up in your brain no wonder....

Thumb the_roar 09 March 2015, 19:18

Branding someone as stupid, is not an opinion.

Its a statement based on facts or arrogance.

You never provide facts, so either your an arrogant twit or just been given this God given right to call whomever you like "stupid".

You peace, have twisted the meaning of freedom of speech to your own standards which includes insulting whomever you choose without consequence.

Thumb the_roar 09 March 2015, 19:23

Tex the man who predicted Assad & HA will fall within 3 months if not 3weeks 4 years ago, is still handing out free predictions.

keep predicting tex...one day you'll get something right surely.

but for now, you are not very credible.

Default-user-icon wolf.the_roar (Guest) 09 March 2015, 17:55

FT = the most informative poster this site has ever seen by a country mile
No wonder his posts are removed within minutes of them being posted.