Berri from Iran: Our Army is among Best Armies in Region

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced Friday during a visit to Tehran that the Lebanese army is “among the best armies in the region.”

“The Lebanese army possesses all the capabilities that allow it to continue the battle of ridding the eastern mountains of terrorism, especially the part that is still under the control of the Islamic State group,” Berri told reporters accompanying him to Iran.

“Thank God our army is among the best armies in the region and has demonstrated high combat competency in its war on terror,” the speaker added.

As for the looming offensive against the IS group in the outskirts of the border towns of Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa, Berri said “the timing of the battle belongs to the Army Command , which has the ability to evaluate the circumstances and atmosphere needed to perform its missions.”

Berri had arrived earlier in the day in Tehran at the head of an official delegation to take part in the oath-taking ceremony of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the National News Agency reported.

Berri and the accompanying delegation had received an invitation from Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, NNA said.

Rouhani was sworn in for a second term on Thursday by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei after being re-elected in a landslide in May.

The ceremony will be held on Saturday.