Ghosn: Qaida Members Infiltrating Lebanon under Guise of Syrian Opposition

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn on Tuesday warned that al-Qaida members have entered the country through the Bekaa border town of Arsal “under the guise of being members of the Syrian opposition,” noting that he will raise the issue in cabinet.

During a meeting at his office with a delegation of high-ranking Lebanese army officers, Ghosn said: “We have information that certain operations are taking place at some illegal border crossings, especially in Arsal, where weapons and some al-Qaida terrorist elements are entering (the country) under the guise of being members of the Syrian opposition.”

Since the eruption of the uprising against the Syrian regime on March 15, scores of Syrians have fled to Lebanon through illegal border crossings, while the Syrian authorities have justified their frequent violations of the Lebanese borders under the pretext of pursuing “armed terrorist gangs.”

The defense minister said that reining in such incidents was “first and foremost the responsibility of the army and security forces,” but added that “at the same time it is a national responsibility that must be shouldered by all Lebanese parties.”

Ghosn, however, stressed his “confidence in the Lebanese army and its wise command, which at more than a dangerous junction managed to spare Lebanon the winds of strife and divisions.”

Comments 17
Default-user-icon Free citizen (Guest) 20 December 2011, 21:26

Justifying the infiltration of the syrian army, any way Mr Ghosn was appointed by the syrian regime so we don't blame him

Default-user-icon barazan (Guest) 20 December 2011, 21:27

"al-Qaida members have entered the country through the Bekaa border.."

Please Mr Branch tell us the border with what country is that and how did those al-Qaida members safely travel around that neighboring country before they got to the Lebanese border.
I wonder if like Shaker al-Abssi and gang those al-Qaida members were also freed from Syrian prisons before their jail term for terrorism was up and sent over. And Mr Branch please be very specific and elaborate with your details.
Sadaka allahou al 3azeem.

Missing peace 20 December 2011, 21:30

notice the coincidences since syria is in trouble:
- estonians were kidnapped
- rockets fired from the south
- bombings in tyre
- unrest in palestinian camps
- what next?
...
syria is sending a clear message to lebanon saying that if the lebanese are against them unrest and destabilisation will prevail...
and aoun said that syria will keep on infiltrating islamists groups to destabilze lebanon once it has left...

Default-user-icon Gabriel (Guest) 20 December 2011, 21:38

Mr Gohsn go eat pizzas and leave the story telling to Sayed Hassan

Missing renren 20 December 2011, 21:59

You are the only ignorent if you think that Lebanese people will buy this .

Default-user-icon John from Koura (Guest) 21 December 2011, 00:34

The Idea that Al Qaida was and is active in Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon is nothing new. Remember the bombing of a hotel in Jordan where the producer of Lion of the desert was killed. In the last number of years you have had bombings in Lebanon, fighting in the camps, and rockets shot at occupied Palestine. Al Qaida is real and to imagine they do not exist is not realistic. This is not Syrian conspiracy.

Default-user-icon Tahrir (Guest) 21 December 2011, 01:29

Yes of course you pig face

Default-user-icon There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium... (Guest) 21 December 2011, 01:33

I guess now that Iran controls Iraq Bashar turned to sending his al-Qaida terrorist elements to Lebanon.

Missing truth1976 21 December 2011, 02:32

This is just a cover up for who were the real idiots behind the UN bombing and the rockets shock from the south... You are fool if you think the other extreme did any of this. We all know their first target would be... come on people wake up!

Missing truth1976 21 December 2011, 02:42

Oh another thing ... Bashar also swears to his god that who he is fighting are Al qaida.... Yeah right why now would they do such I thing. Don't get me wrong I hate all extremes but I know how those of Islam play with one another... All in the name of god... yeah what ever... I just think the moderate Muslims of both sides are tired of the not living of living under such tyranny. They know they deserve more... I'm a proud Catholic Maronite from the US and I have met Arab Muslims that are no different than us all over the world. It was the so called leaders who kept them down. They did not have a chance in life. I praise the Syrians for standing up as they have. if it were any other nation... the people would bow down...

Default-user-icon Bret (Guest) 21 December 2011, 02:47

Syrian puppet

Default-user-icon Le PheneChien (Guest) 21 December 2011, 05:12

Try again.

Default-user-icon Gabby (Guest) 21 December 2011, 06:22

How amazing, the Hezz don't know anything about them yet they passed through the Bekaa where they grow drugs, inport rockets, and the Lebanese army can't even go. they must be slipping badly or going blind these days. I hope I don't get sued by Qassem now.

Default-user-icon MUSTAPHA O. GHALAYINI (Guest) 21 December 2011, 19:26

this is lebanese defense minister..??he is compatible with our foreign minister

Thumb shab 21 December 2011, 19:50

qaida is the new scare word. before it was Zionist

Default-user-icon ***** (Guest) 21 December 2011, 21:07

Ask yourself, who has rockets, AT weapons, explosives etc to give Fatah Islam + jund al sham + other Qaida ofshoots these weapons? Who controls & has been controlling the border for many decades now? Who released Shakir al 3absi from a Syrian Prison?

Fatah Islam + Jund al Sham are little more than Assad regime stooges posing as sunni fanatics to demonise Sunnis & make supporters of regime allies fearful. They have learn this from Iran which learnt this from the Zionists.

The overwhelming majority of causalities from these "sunni" extremists are Sunni's themselves. Enough lies the only terrorist today is Bashar Al Assad & his stooges from Karami's to SSNP & Hezb

Default-user-icon Minx (Guest) 22 December 2011, 11:41

This guy is in charge of our defense????What the heck is he doing complaining to us???What is your job Mr defense Minister, and what are we paying your salary for???To sit and cry wolf (that if there is any reality to your stupid story)...This is a Copy paste of the concept of Assad interview two weeks ago....What an IDIOT