Suleiman Hails Army Measures to Safeguard Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman hailed on Saturday the measures undertaken by the Army in the northeastern Bekaa border town of Arsal.

“The measures carried out by the Army in Arsal are to preserve Lebanese territories,” Suleiman said in a statement.

The army issued a communique on Saturday revealing that Syrian rebels attacked a Lebanese army post in Arsal late Friday, without causing any casualties.

It said that the army reinforced its presence in the area and began to pursue the gunmen, who fled after the attack towards the mountains and several border towns and villages inside Lebanon.

"The army leadership will not allow any party to use Lebanese territory to implicate Lebanon into events in neighboring countries, and reaffirms its determination to protect Lebanese territory," the statement added.

Suleiman noted that the military institution's deployment in Arsal complies with the state's decision to disassociate the country from conflicts in the region.

The Baabda declaration, which was approved by gatherers during a national dialogue session, states that Lebanon must not be used as a sanctuary, a transit point or a base for the smuggling of arms and armed men.

Suleiman called on the residents of the border towns to “support the army and assist the troops in carrying out their national mission.”