Qahwaji Affirms Army Bias to all Lebanon, al-Qaida for Elite Migration to Syria
The situation is still not clear. Lebanon's main concern now is how its northern capital is going to survive a sudden outburst that exploded without prior warnings.
Tripoli still blunders in the security unrest, at the time the Lebanese Army is basically exerting all its efforts to attain security and sovereignty in the city.
Lebanon's politicians and people are calling for diplomatic recoveries, and are praying for the wellbeing of civilians as illegal armed manifestations are on the rise.
General Qahwaji: Army Bias to All Lebanon, Does Not Favor One Party Over Another
Lebanese Army Commander, General Jean Qahwaji, reiterated the military organizations' solemnity, and asserted it will not allow anyone to violate it.
In an interview with as-Safir newspaper, General Qahwaji stated, "If the Army's solemnity was violated, then nothing will remain of the military organization. The strength of the military organization should be the base upon which politicians should lean. The Army's strength means more insurance for all citizens."
Regarding the Tripoli events, Qahwaji said that the army is insistent on fulfilling its task in Tripoli; to restore life to its normal course, acquire the citizen's security, and remove all weapons' manifestations.
He further confirmed to the daily that the current situation should end, and things should get back to normal, so as not to allow the spread of security deterioration to other areas.
Furthermore, Qahwaji indicated that the military units are conducting their duties out of concern on the citizens' and army personnel's lives.
"The orders given to military personnel require strictness to restore security and stability, and to protect citizens. Therefore, the military units conduct their tasks to prevent armed manifestations, [...] and confront only those who directly provoke the Army. The army responds to the source of fire, with great concern not to cause any civilian victims," the Army General stressed.
Qahwaji avoided responding to any of the politicians' rhetoric against the Army. However; he confirmed that "the Army is for everyone without any exception, and does not favor one party over another [...]. The Lebanese Army is bias to all areas; out of duty to protect the citizens' security."
Mikati: Security in Tripoli Should be Gradually Restored
On another hand, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati indicated that the meetings he held Thursday night in Tripoli included meeting with the city's political figures and their representatives.
"These meetings were concluded with an inclusive support for the security plan that was divided into two parts. [The first part] required the internal security forces to take responsibility of setting fixed and movable barriers in the city. [The second part] required the Lebanese Army to take responsibility of deploying in the Bab el-Tabaneh and Jabal Mohsen areas, in a balanced way," PM Mikati stated in an interview with an-Nahar newspaper.
PM Mikati hoped that "security would gradually be restored," believing that "the time has come when everyone should look into the future of the situation in Tripoli; not out of concern on Tripoli only, but out of concern on Lebanon."
"We've all been through a lot of crises, yet the time has come when all of us should talk to each other in a clear and honest way, without any compliments, and to look into the future of our upcoming generations. No one can set a schedule for his future, if we witness an incident every day," he further told the daily.
Berri: Tripoli Crisis Requires National Dialogue, Radical Solution
On his part, Lebanese Speaker, Nabih Berri, discussed the delicate situation in Tripoli with the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Awad Asiri, and informed him that what is occurring in Tripoli is not a normal issue. Speaker Berri indicated that the said events do not only affect Tripoli and the north, but also all Lebanon; threatening the country of conflict.
In an interview with as-Safir newspaper, Berri indicated that during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador, he proposed to restore dialogue between all parties on the current situation in Tripoli.
Hereupon, Berri asserted to the daily that "the issue of weapons; which is apparently deployed on a broad sphere in many places, is not on the dialogue's agenda."
He indicated that "Tripoli's file requires a radical solution; which deserves a national conference, in case the circumstances allowed it." He further believed that if the Future Movement interacted with his proposal, this means overcoming a great deal of the crisis.
Furthermore, he said that the increase of tension will exhaust the army, and negatively affect its solemnity.
Al-Qaida Seeks "Elite" Migration from Lebanon to Syria
In somehow Tripoli-related suspicious movements, al-Akhbar daily reported that during the past few days, security, political, judiciary, and media circles were busy investigating information about "Fateh al-Islam" leadership elites leaving Ein el-Helweh refugee camp to an unknown destination. Al-Akhbar daily added in its report that "Abdullah Azzam" Brigades also refugee camp, by batched a few days ago.
However, security investigations indicate that the said groups headed towards Syria to take part in combats against the Syrian army; or in fact to participate in training anti-Syrian regime volunteers who lack combat skills.
On this level, the daily added that this decision was an "al-Qaida" affiliation-related order that required the [Ein el-Helweh elites] to head towards the combat field in Syria. Although this is what appears to be the reason behind the personnel's departure out of Lebanon, yet the daily added that actually, the "Fateh al-Islam" personnel left in light of the security outburst in Tripoli.
Source: Lebanese Newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org
