Basbous Appoints Naim Shammas as ISF Chief of Staff

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous on Friday appointed Brig. Gen. Naim Shammas as ISF Chief of Staff, after Brig. Gen. George Lattouf reached the legal retirement age.

The file of security and military appointments has long been the subject of major controversy and some ministers, especially those of the Free Patriotic Movement, have continuously rejected term extensions for security and military chiefs, including for Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.

Disputes have also engulfed the issue of appointing a new ISF chief. Months ago, al-Mustaqbal Movement announced its rejection of linking the ISF appointments to those of the army command before the movement reportedly accepted a settlement involving the appointment of Chamel Roukoz -- MP Michel Aoun's son-in-law – as army chief in return for the appointment of Brig. Gen. Imad Othman as ISF commander.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, however, issued a decree in 2015 extending Basbous' term for two years, while brigadier generals Fadi al-Hashem, Joseph al-Helou and Joseph Kallas were allocated senior ISF posts.