Berri Questions 'Suspicious' Campaign against Army in Light of Abra Clashes
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri criticized the criticism directed against the Lebanese army and parliament, saying that the two institutions are symbols of Lebanon's unity, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.
He labeled the campaign against the army as “suspicious”, wondering why soldiers would be put on trial over the recent clashes in the southern region of Abra in the city of Sidon.
“The army gave the truth about the clashes, so why do they want to put it on trial?” he asked,
He noted that the army had conducted an internal investigation in light of the Abra unrest, “so why is it still coming under attack?”
The army has evidence that the supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir had attacked it, but it did not reveal them in line with judicial regulations, revealed Berri.
Furthermore, he praised caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and the Army Command for “refusing to be dragged into disputes at the parliamentary defense committee meeting aimed at addressing the Abra clashes.”
He said that the meeting was aimed at demonstrating that the army was the first to assault al-Asir's supporters.
A meeting for the parliamentary defense committee was postponed on Thursday after Ghosn failed to attend the session set to discuss Hizbullah's involvement in last month's clashes in Abra.
The fighting in Sidon was sparked when al-Asir's supporters opened fire at an army checkpoint, leaving around 18 soldiers and more than 20 gunmen dead in the ensuing two-day battles.
The cleric remains at large.
Ghosn stressed on Friday that he rejects any attempts to question the Lebanese army's actions, pointing out that the military institution is a “red line.”
20 July 2013, 10:24
71
Saida was always the starter of troubles. Wasn't the army accused of sniping Maarouf Saad. The evidence was M16 caliber. This time is a video HA is wearing army suits. I never understood why HA didn't join the army and turn it into its own and rule Lebanon as planned.
20 July 2013, 15:27
02
"""He said that the meeting was aimed at demonstrating that the army was the first to assault al-Asir's supporters."""
Amal and Hizbshitan LIARS!!! HA Militia was Involved and they STARTED! that is way we want to question the army way they allowed the Hizbshitan Militia to get involved.
20 July 2013, 15:33
02
Stuck on stereotyping an entire people because of the act of a few retarded terrorists???... and Hell will come before the Thugs of Iran and Assad join My Peoples Army... HELL.
They disband and and its groups join they Army one by one as individual citizens of Lebanon. Only way.!!!
20 July 2013, 20:00
02
lebpatriot1 earth to mars lebpatriot1 earth to venus... were are you???
20 July 2013, 20:09
01
Actually I live in Lebanon and I am a Lebanese and a Canadian... and its you who are the Cannibal...
20 July 2013, 15:35
03
You Shia should be hanging more Lebanese Flags outside your apartment buildings than Iranian and Hizbshitan Flags... When that happens we the Lebanese will see you as our Lebanese... Its THAT simple.
20 July 2013, 20:03
03
ISREAL and IRAN are friends and I hate them Both... we Lebanese are the True resistance!!! and Hizbshitan made secret agreements with Iran and Israel... History and actions speaks loader than their words and rhetoric...
20 July 2013, 20:11
11
HA is master of fooling even their own people and supporters ... don't worry M14, M8 Same garbage...
No decent leadership AT ALL!!!
20 July 2013, 20:12
01
M8, M14 in a twisted way are both Zionist supporters, one of them openly in secret and the other ignorant of that fact they are...
20 July 2013, 19:55
02
At some point, unless a clear 360 degree turn towards the good of Lebanon as a whole has been meaningfully demonstrated and committed to, Berri, who represents the political wing of H.A., who in turn is the proxy army of Iran, should be ignored and separated from a debatable issue that triggers an emotional response from the good people Lebanon. With the fake tricky cards that have been dealt to us, or in other words shoved down our throats, you may say it makes it impossible to ignore him. Now imagine being a kid in the schoolyard that has a sand box. There is always a bully making the rules. I always created or made my own games. Change the game and make these Iranian patriots irrelevant.
