Qahwaji in Riyadh to Participate in U.S.-led Coalition Meeting

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji headed to the Saudi capital Riyadh to take part in a two-day meeting for military leaders from more than 20 partner nations in a U.S.-led coalition to degrade and destroy Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Qahwaji traveled on Wednesday night to Saudi Arabia.

His participation is to follow up on a similar meeting that was held in Washington last year.

Sources told al-Liwaa newspaper published on Thursday that Qahwaji aims at remaining up-to-date on the plans to demolish ISIL.

“Qahwaji's participation is to confirm Lebanon's strategy to combat terrorists through state authorities,” the sources added.

In October, the army commander attended a meeting in Washington for senior commanders from more than 20 Western and Arab allies involved in the campaign to defeat jihadists.

However, Qahwaji's participation sparked a debate in Lebanon as the officials are divided whether to take part in the coalition or not.

Lebanon first joined the coalition when Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil attended talks in Jeddah in September during which ten Arab countries agreed to help the U.S. in its fight against the Islamic State.

After Bassil's return from Jeddah, some officials began claiming that Lebanon is not part of the coalition over fears that warplanes would carry out strikes in the country in violation of its sovereignty.

Since August, the Lebanese army has been fighting militants from the IS and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front near the border with Syria. Earlier that month, the extremists crossed into the northeastern town of Arsal from Syria, capturing soldiers and policemen. Four of the soldiers have since been executed.

H.K.

G.K.