Qahwaji Says Civil War Won't Be Repeated, Army to Prevent Syria Crisis Spillover

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji on Thursday reassured that the circumstances of the 1975-1990 civil war “will not be repeated,” stressing that the army is determined “more than ever” to prevent a spillover of the Syrian crisis into Lebanon.

In his instructions to the army's top generals during a meeting held in Yarze, Qahwaji underlined the military institution's “determination, more than ever, to spare Lebanon the repercussions of regional conflicts and to confront any party seeking to incite sectarian strife with the aim of undermining state authority and national unity.”

The army commander rejected any attempt to “revive the devastating schemes of fragmentation, which the country had suffered from in the past for a long period of time.”

“The circumstances of the 1976 events will never be repeated, and this can be attributed primarily to the army's coherence, immunity and firm decision to prevent strife, and to the embracement of all the Lebanese,” Qahwaji reassured.

The army chief called on the military units to “immediately intervene to put an end to the security incidents that erupt every now and then, with a spirit of determination, awareness and impartiality, and according to the higher national interest, not under the pressure of political disputes or the political calculations of any party.”

“Refuting the tendentious rumors and unjust accusations against the military institution must happen through further closing of ranks and greater efforts and through abiding by the highest levels of morality and discipline,” Qahwaji noted.

Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir has accused the army of imposing a “military siege” on the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in Sidon and of preparing to storm the place of worship, claims that were denied by several military sources.

Qahwaji called on officers to keep their military units fully prepared to “confront the plots of the Israeli enemy and terrorism and to closely follow all the upcoming junctures.”