Bassil Calls for Raising Defenses to 'Confront Imminent Wave of Terrorism'

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil warned on Sunday of the “imminent wave of terrorism” that is headed towards Lebanon.

He therefore called on all sides “to raise the lines of defenses to protect Lebanon against any foreign threat.”

“We may be entitled to request foreign assistance against external threats, but we have no right to demand help to fight each other,” he added.

“All we ask is for the external forces to leave us alone and stop pressuring us because we know our internal interests,” stressed the minister from Batroun where he inaugurated a medical center.

Since the uprising in Syria took a violent turn, Lebanon has been facing the growing threat of extremists from the neighboring country.

One of the main causes of the threat is Hizbullah's fighting alongside the Syrian regime against the rebels.

Jihadists from Syria have carried out a number of bombings against Hizbullah targets in Lebanon.

They have also engaged in battles with the Lebanese army along the porous Lebanese-Syrian border.

M.T.