Jumblat Urges 'Full Political Cover' for Army in Tripoli, Slams Kidnap of Syria Nuns

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Friday warned against “leaving the army alone in Tripoli” and strongly condemned the abduction of nuns from the Syrian Christian town of Maalula at the hands of Syrian rebels.

In a statement, the PSP leader cautioned against “leaving the army alone in Tripoli without offering it full political cover, firstly from Tripoli's figures and secondly from the rest of Lebanese figures, so that it can fully perform its duties and restore security and stability in the city.”

On Thursday, army troops came under gunfire in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabbaneh and al-Qobbeh, in protest at its entry into Bab al-Tabbaneh and arrest of fugitives, which followed a decision by the caretaker cabinet to entrust the army with Tripoli's security for a period of six months.

Jumblat noted that the statements of condemnation “are not enough anymore amid the daily hemorrhage in the city and the falling of innocent civilian and military martyrs.”

The PSP leader said “what's required is drying up the sources of funding of all armed groups and cooperation among the security and judicial authorities to identify and arrest all those involved in these incidents to avoid leaving the army alone in this war of attrition.”

“The military institution has proved that it is for all the Lebanese without any discrimination or bias, but the main responsibility falls on all the components of the Lebanese political community to turn their words into deeds,” Jumblat added, saluting “all the martyrs of the Lebanese army.”

Separately, Jumblat deplored “the kidnap of the nuns in Maalula, the same as we had condemned all the incidents of kidnapping which usurp personal freedom and violate humanitarian principles.”

He said that the conduct of the brigade that abducted the nuns was a “replica of the regime's behavior” and an act that harms “the goals of the revolution.”

Jumblat pointed out that the several kidnappings were a “result of the continuous support of some regional countries and axes for some armed groups at the expense of the main aspirations of the Syrian people who are seeking freedom, democracy and dignity.”

The Druze leader also called for the release of the abducted bishops Boulos Yazigi and Yohanna Ibrahim, who were kidnapped near Aleppo several months ago.

On Monday, jihadists and opposition fighters stormed the Christian town of Maalula near Damascus, abducting 12 Lebanese and Syrian Greek Orthodox nuns.