Army Starts Implementing Holiday Season Security Measures, Denies Reports of Possible Attack

Army troops on Tuesday continued to implement extraordinary security measures throughout Lebanon on the occasion of Christmas and New Year's holidays.

"Troops were deployed, forces are patrolling and fixed and mobile checkpoints as well as control stations were erected in several regions,” the Army Command said in a released communique.

“We have implemented these measures to assure citizens and to preserve their lives and possessions,” it explained.

The statement detailed: “These measures are specifically implemented near places of worship, on main roads, in shopping malls, public institutions, touristic places and around Arab and international businesses.”

The state-run National News Agency reported that General Security forces have largely deployed in northern towns.

"Fixed and mobile checkpoints were erected in the North and forces are patrolling in the region, particularity in (the northern city of) Tripoli,” the NNA added.

Control points were also erected near churches, monasteries, night clubs, restaurants and shopping malls in the city, according to the same source.

The Army Command reiterated that citizens must fully cooperate with these security measures and reach out to the military institution in case they suspected something that might put their lives to risk.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Mousallem told MTV that reports about a possible attack or sabotage on Christmas night are not true.

"We are dealing seriously with this rumor and taking all necessary measures,” he stressed.

The military institution had announced on Saturday that extraordinary security measures will be adopted during the holiday season “to protect citizens and their possessions.”

However, on Sunday, a security official told An Nahar daily that the coordination between security agencies is “weak.”

The official told the daily that the coordination is not up to par with the “very dangerous situation, “ explaining that there is no real exchange of information between the security officials, which as he said, “leaves a security gap.”