Qahwaji to U.S. Officials: We Refuse to Let Lebanon Turn into Pawn in Regional Affairs

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji concluded a trip to the united States where he highlighted Lebanon's role in combating terrorism and its stability in wake of regional conflicts, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

He told the daily: “I relayed to U.S. officials my fears and rejection that Lebanon be turned into a negotiations paper in regional affairs.”

“I received reassurances that officials are keen on preserving Lebanon's stability and current borders,” he continued.

He added that the army's confrontation of terrorists was lauded during his meetings with American officials.

Qahwaji credited the success to the army's bravery and experience in fighting terror, citing the Dinnieh incidents of 2000 as an example.

U.S. officials went so far as to congratulate the military on its recent success in the northeastern border region of Arsal where it killed six terrorists and detained 16 as part of the sporadic clashes that take place with extremists in the area.

Such is the extent of U.S. officials' knowledge of local Lebanese developments, noted the army chief.

The conflict in neighboring Syria has regularly spilled over into Lebanon in recent years in the form of cross-border violence and sectarian clashes inside the country.

Militants from the extremist Islamic State group and the Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front are entrenched along the country's porous border with Syria and the army regularly shells their positions.

Comments 1
Missing humble 13 February 2016, 09:56

Listen to the DNA of yesterday Friday and you will realize how much we are pawns of Iran...