Bassil from Ras Baalbek: The Army is The One to Liberate Lebanese Land

Foreign Minister and Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil said on Monday that it is “normal for the army to be the one to liberate Lebanese territories,” pointing out that the country is celebrating the “restoration of decision making which has been absent before.”

Bassil who spoke from the border town of Ras Baalbek, chaired the party's politburo meeting which was exceptionally held in the town in a gesture of support for the Lebanese army as it wages a battle against the Islamic State group in the outskirts of al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek.

He said the battle against the jihadists also aims to uncover the fate of servicemen abducted by the IS in 2014 during the Arsal army battles.

“The battle is accompanied by knowing the fate of the abducted servicemen,” he said, stressing “now we live a great joy because our State is restoring the people's trust.”

Turning to the crisis of displaced Syrians and refugees in Lebanon, he said: “We have always been talking about the threats of displacement and terrorism which used to be under a foreign cover, today this cover is gone.”

“The responsibility is great for the Lebanese and the army in how to deal with the issue of the Syrian displacement and the danger today comes from several quarters,” he stressed.

The Minister added: “We will be in Ras Baablek today and everyday. The meeting was extraordinary because the situation is extraordinary.”

The FPM's meeting was held in the presence of Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil, State Minster for Presidency Affairs Pierre Raffoul, MP Simon Abi Ramia and politburo members.

The Minister later visited al-Qaa where he delivered a speech saying: “We need no one's permission to liberate our own land and confront terrorism.”