Geagea Meets Mustaqbal MPs: We Only Recognize Authority of Army in its Deployment in Lebanon

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea rejected on Monday "media campaigns" against the army and its deployment in regions bordering Syria in the wake of clashes between Hizbullah and Syrian regime forces with extremists in the neighboring country.

He declared: “We only recognize the authority of the army in its deployment in Arsal and the Bekaa.”

He made his remarks after holding talks with a delegation from the Mustaqbal bloc.

“The army is present in the manner its deems necessary in Arsal,” continued Geagea.

“Regarding the outskirts of the northeastern border town, we must decide on whether we adhere to the state or not,” he added.

“For a year, the military has taken up defensive positions along the outskirts of Arsal, so what is the purpose of calls urging it to deploy in certain areas there?” wondered the LF leader.

“How can the positions of the army be subject to media speculation?” he asked.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had recently warned that Hizbullah would intervene against the militants of al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Arsal's outskirts if the state failed to do so.

Since Wednesday, Hizbullah has made a series of military advances in Arsal's outskirts, capturing several posts from al-Nusra's hands.

M.T.

Y.R.