Qahwaji Warns of Fabricated Tensions, Lebanon into Darkness
Once again Lebanon into security and livelihood chaos.
As the political campaign against the Lebanese Army (LA) paved the way for a new armed confrontation with the military institution, questions are raised on the sides that agitated tensions along the Palestinian refugees camps in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the country plunged again into darkness after a south Lebanon power plant was damaged. This led to the spread of rage all over the Lebanese territories.
Fabricated Tension in Palestinian Camps
In details, at least two Palestinians were killed Monday in clashes between the Lebanese Army and armed men in the refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in north Lebanon.
The incident quickly set off clashes in the south's Ain al-Hilweh camp where a Palestinian man was killed after falling on a sharp object. Four others and a Lebanese soldier were wounded in the clashes.
"As-Safir" Lebanese newspaper reported Tuesday the "security situation remains the first concern as once the military situation eased in Tripoli, it soon reappeared from the gate of the Palestinian refugee camps."
It further added that "if some Salafist groups have tried to invest hot blood, from Nahr al-Bared to Ain al-Hilweh, one can no more neglect the human conditions there."
For its part, "al-Akhbar" sources unveiled that "Salafist groups from different nationalities have recently entered Palestinian camps throughout Lebanon, mainly Ain el-Hilweh where militants with alleged links to the al-Qaida have reportedly taken refuge."
"The gunmen are receiving military training and attending seminars that incite them to military confrontations at a school in the camp's al-Taware street," al-Akhbar added.
Moreover, "an-Nahar" daily quoted a military source revealing that "the LA is being exposed to provocations in al-Bared and there is a well-known Palestinian team which is carrying incitement."
In its statement, the LA revealed that "infiltrators in the camp began hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at the Samed post which caused injury to three soldiers, burned a military vehicle and damaged part of the post."
"Some infiltrators attempted to storm the post by force, prompting soldiers to confront them by using anti-riot weapons, tear gas and rubber bullets," the statement said.
It also mentioned that "after the infiltrators persisted in their attempts to gain access to the post, soldiers resorted to live rounds which resulted in a number of casualties among the assailants."
Qahwaji Warns: Hidden Maestro Controls Tension
In parallel, LA's Commander General Jean Qahwaji warned Tuesday against the fabricated tension across Lebanon.
He also feared of attempts from here and there to drag the Lebanese internal front into an internal crisis with no limited negative consequences.
"Some are trying to link the country to the regional turmoil," he cautioned.
In an interview with "as-Safir", Qahwaji confirmed that "the LA units have been deployed along the Lebanese territories, including the North, to fulfill their tasks."
"We are suspicious that some are trying to drag security tensions from one place to another, so that as the LA calms a situation here, another is sparked in another place."
The head of the LA highlighted that "there is a hidden maestro with a clear goal resembled by provoking the situation in the country to keep the army occupied in marginal battles."
He also addressed all Lebanese sides that "everyone is responsible for protecting the country," Qahwaji said.
"Thus, it is necessary to have the ultimate national responsibility," he stated.
However, the LA commander vowed that the military institution won't be deviated away from its mission as it insists to lead the ship to a safe coast.
He further stressed that the army will strike back with an iron fist at anyone tempted to tamper with the security of Lebanon or threaten the safety of the citizens.
Qahwaji told "as-Safir" that "the country's situation is critical and all the Lebanese, in all their positions, are partners in the mission to save Lebanon."
"The regional devastation surrounding us requires a lot of insight," he added.
In remarks to "al-Akhbar", he affirmed that " the LA remains committed to certain limits in dealing with the incidents on the ground."
The same daily quoted a source familiar with the Lebanese-Palestinian contacts uncovering that " a high rank Lebanese official recently received a warning from an Arab president, that he must anticipate the possibility of pushing the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon into a demographic internal strife to blow up the Lebanese arena."
"This attempts to link Lebanon directly to what is happening on the Syrian arena," he stressed.
As a result, the Lebanese official contacted the Head of the Palestinan Authority Mahmoud Abbas, who sent Azzam al-Ahmed as an envoy to Lebanon to cooperate with the Lebanese authorities in the attempt to thwart the plot.
No Electricity in Lebanon
On the livelihood front, the complete cut of electricity overall Lebanon formed recently a major concern to the Lebanese.
Damage to a south Lebanon power plant plunged much of the country into darkness Monday night. The Zahrani power plant, which provides more than a third of the country's power, stopped working around 7 p.m., cutting electricity in areas across Beirut, Tripoli, Koura and the south.
In this context, the Director General of the Electricite Du Liban , Kamal Hayek warned that "both the electricity nutrition as well as the administration have been from a severe paralysis since two months ago."
"There is no maintenance or repair or decisions or meetings," he said.
Source: Lebanese dailies, Translated and Edited moqawama.org
