Report: Army Averted Strife in Bekaa after Bazzal's Death, Slams Attempts Create Division with ISF

The army exerted “all possible efforts” to prevent strife in the eastern Bekaa region in the wake of the execution of policeman Ali al-Bazzal, a military source told al-Joumhouria newspaper on Tuesday.

He said: “Tensions were very high in the area, but they calmed after the army intelligence carried out contacts with local political and religious authorities.”

Coordination is ongoing, “at the highest levels,” between the army, Internal Security Forces, the ISF Intelligence Bureau, and military intelligence.

“Some sides are attempting to create divisions between the army, ISF, and other state security agencies,” he noted.

Commenting on efforts to release the servicemen kidnapped by Islamist gunmen from the northeastern border town of Arsal in August, the military source said: “Negotiating their release is in the hands of the government.”

He refuted to al-Joumhouria claims that the military institutions “have abandoned their sons because they did not play a direct role in the negotiations.”

“Military Intelligence chief Brigadier General Edmond Fadel is taking part in the crisis cell meetings on the case and the army is carrying out raids and arrests against suspects,” it added.

“The military holds strong negotiation cards to place in the hands of the government,” it explained.

“This indicates that we are doing the impossible to release our sons,” the source said.

“Being dragged towards strife is forbidden and we are therefore doing all we can to thwart the schemes of terrorists,” he stressed.

Tensions were high over the weekend following the execution of Ali al-Bazzal, one of the servicemen abducted by the Islamic State and al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front.

Angry protesters in his hometown of al-Bazzalieh blocked roads in the area in order to cut off aid to the outskirts of Arsal, where the servicemen are reportedly being held.

Assaults were reported against Syrian refugee encampments in the Bekaa and the northern region of Akkar over the weekend.

M.T.

H.K.