Security Meeting Discusses Troop Needs, Saudi Grant at the Grand Serail, Hariri in Attendance

A security meeting was held on Friday afternoon at the Grand Serail to discuss the military institution's needs and the spending mechanism of the one billion dollar Saudi grant to the army, amid the unrest in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tammam Salam and in the presence of former Premier Saad Hariri, who returned earlier in the day to the country after three years abroad.

Also in attendance were Minister of Defense Samir Moqbel, Interior Minster Nouhad al-Mashnouq, army chief General Jean Qahwaji, Internal Security Forces chief Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous, General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and State Security chief George Qaraa.

"The talks at the Grand Serail focused on the urgent needs of the Lebanese armed forces, including soldiers and security forces, and the means to quickly respond to these demands,” the state-run National News Agency said.

PM Salam asked security officials to prepare lists of their needs, under the supervision of the concerned ministers, the NNA added.

"We need planes to combat terrorism,” Qahwaji stated, assuring that the one billion dollar Saudi grant can help the military institution in this respect.

He also announced that army troops have entered Arsal.

"No one can prevent us from accessing the town,” he declared.

On the situation in the Bekaa region, he added: “I believe that the kidnapped soldiers are now outside Arsal.”

The Friday meeting kicked off with the Premier hailing the return of Hariri, considering it a “great patriotic step amid the country's critical situation.”

"We hope (Hariri's return) would lead to rapprochement among the Lebanese, and consequently strengthen the country on the security and political levels,” Salam added.

He also thanked Saudi King Abdullah on the one billion dollar grant to the Lebanese army, saying that it demonstrates “the king and the kingdom's keenness on Lebanon, its security and stability and.”

“The grant strengthens state institutions,” he noted.

Salam held phone talks with King Abdullah on Friday to thank him for the grant to the army, while the latter stressed his country's support for Lebanon, its stability and security.

King Abdullah expressed concerns over the latest security developments in Arsal, assuring that he is standing by Lebanon in its fight against terrorism.

"The kingdom is always ready to offer anything needed to demonstrate its support to Lebanon and its people,” the Saudi King said.

Hariri, meanwhile, revealed during the talks that he was tasked with supervising the spending of the Saudi grant according to legal procedures.

The al-Mustaqbal movement leader had declared on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia has provided Lebanon's army with one billion dollars to strengthen security.

This comes as at least 17 soldiers have been killed battling jihadists in Arsal, who are reportedly from several different extremist groups fighting in Syria.

Another 22 soldiers have been captured, although 13 of them have been freed.

The fighting erupted on Saturday following the arrest of a member of the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front.

S.D.B.