Salam Urges Military to Control Situation in Eastern Border Areas
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Tammam Salam urged the Army Command on Monday to take measures to control the situation in border regions in the eastern Bekaa Valley after gunmen fled into Lebanon following the fall of the Syrian town of Yabrud.
A statement issued by his office after a meeting between Salam and Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji at the Grand Serail, said the PM instructed the military commander “to take all the necessary measures to control the situation in Bekaa's border areas and do what it takes to protect civilians, and consolidate stability in Arsal, al-Labweh and nearby towns.”
The gunmen have fled into the northeastern town of Arsal after Syrian government troops and Hizbullah fighters captured Yabrud, a strategic town near the frontier.
The fact that opposition fighters fled into the country suggests the conflict could bleed further into Syria's neighbor.
On Monday, the army blew up a booby-trapped vehicle on the Fakha-Ras Baalbek road, a day after a suicide car bombing rocked the town of al-Nabi Othman.
Salam was briefed by Qahwaji on the latest security developments in the northern city of Tripoli and the measures taken by the army to stop the violence, the statement said.
The prime minister urged the political leaders of Tripoli to support the army and security forces to salvage the city and prevent the warring sides from tampering with its security.
The statement said that Salam also condemned the bombing in al-Nabi Othman and the recent rocket attacks and shelling on al-Labweh, Arsal and the neighboring towns.
Al-Labweh and other eastern towns, whose residents are sympathetic to Hizbullah and the forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad, have been coming under almost daily rocket attacks by the supporters of the rebels.
Arsal, whose residents are Sunni and back the uprising against Assad, has also come under shelling and air raids by regime forces that claim they are targeting rebels infiltrating Lebanon from Syria.
Over the weekend, Syrian government warplanes chased the fleeing rebels into Lebanon, state media said, firing several rockets in the outskirts of Arsal.
The surrounding fields and hills have served as shelter for tens of thousands of refugees.
17 March 2014, 13:13
89
Lack of hareitheik, aoun did not participate and said this was because there was no decided upon minsterial lineup. Once the lineup was clear he participated and even caused delay in getting his way (he didn't lose energy, and he got FM and sime others too), meaning his much important than those who were not considered and were thrown under the bus.
17 March 2014, 13:48
23
The question is once Yabrud was circled why was the escape route open to the Lebanese side? why was it not open to Damascus side for the gunmen to escape into Syria instead of Lebanon?
17 March 2014, 14:58
78
ahrarr
It is best to ignore him my friend He is simply rude and he must have some mental problems. I think it is not even worth pursuing it let it go man
17 March 2014, 15:18
610
Flamethrower
I understand how you feel and understandably so... also the reason I said let it go is simply you are smarter than him don't lower yourself to his level. He is obviously a kid with personal problems or simply too idiotic to realize the extent of his actions. Also ignoring him and in turn will go away....
17 March 2014, 16:29
95
PS.... aoun comes from a very modest family ( and he made it to be commander of the army so good for him) but what i want to say here is he has no family assets that allowed him to amass these fortunes .....to be continued.....
17 March 2014, 17:48
91
I await the day when I will read ONE meaningful post, ONE counter argument, ONE credible or mature info from you, flamethrower.... , but alas!
17 March 2014, 18:16
24
I am in full support of PM Salam, indeed, why is it that our borders are so porous? In the north and the east, it's as if the order is given to keep these places lose and with little control. Even without proper demarcation, our security forces could easily set controls of our border, so far we still have enough personnel and materiel to do it, it therefore is and remains unpardonable to leave such sensitive borders literally so porous. Our PM definitely has a strong point and therefore the army should listen to him and execute the necessity, now a lot better than tomorrow.
17 March 2014, 19:45
50
throwup.....you have to get your facts right as well....the villa he is living in belongs to a nicholas sehnaoui....heheh good deal give you home make me minister!!bass ba2a 3eib!!!
what about fayez karam his protege who was dealing with israel?? did you forget??
17 March 2014, 20:40
14
Cool Phoenix
I hope it is business travel and you are making money :-)
