Moqbel Postpones Retirement of Kheir

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel issued a decision on Saturday postponing the retirement of Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir until 21 August, 2017.

The decision came after a cabinet meeting held on Thursday failed to reach an agreement over the thorny issue of military appointments that included a decision on whether to extend the term of Kheir which ends August 28, or postpone it.

The appointments at the military posts is a contentious subject among political forces especially that the Free Patriotic Movement says it rejects term extensions for any military or security official.

Moqbel had suggested three candidates for the post during the meeting, but none of them garnered the needed minister votes.

The Defense Minister had in August last year postponed the retirement of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman and Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir, extending their terms by one year, after the political forces failed to reach an agreement on security and military appointments.