Report: Lebanon Receives Protocol to Establish Joint Arab Force
Lebanon received earlier this week the protocol to establish a joint Arab military force, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Sunday.
Ministerial sources stated to the daily that the government's general secretariat was handed a copy of the protocol.
Earlier this year, Lebanon, represented by Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, had taken part in two meetings that were held in the Egyptian capital Cairo aimed at discussing the establishment of the force.
The protocol was drafted during these talks.
Al-Mustaqbal revealed that the Lebanese government had received, prior to the staging of the first meeting, a message that proposes that Lebanon take part in the Arab force that was going to be discussed at the talks.
Lebanon's role in the force was detailed in the message, while the Army Command had voiced its observations on it.
Qahwaji's consequent participation at the Cairo meetings was based on these observations, explained the daily.
The protocol is meanwhile set to be proposed before cabinet.
It is expected to take a decision on whether Lebanon will take part in the force before a June 15 deadline.
The Cairo discussions to form the joint Arab force came in light of Saudi Arabia's airstrike campaign against Yemen's Huthi rebels that was launched in March.
The kingdom kicked off the campaign with the aim of ending the rebels' coup and restoring power to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
A coalition of several Arab countries has since been formed to take part in the air campaign.
M.T.
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