Officials Denounce Assault against Army in Arsal

Officials and spiritual leaders condemned on Tuesday a deadly attack that targeted three soldiers in the town of Wadi Hmeid in the eastern border town of Arsal, considering it as an attempt to create sedition in the country.

President Michel Suleiman called for striking with an iron fist all those who attack the army and security forces.

He told Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji that the attack was part of terrorist activities aimed at creating strife in the country.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati said that the assault would not deter the authorities in defending Lebanon's sovereignty.

In a telephone conversation with Qahwaji, Miqati said: “Any attack on the army will not deter us from going ahead with preserving security and defending Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.”

He stressed that the Lebanese people back the army “at this difficult stage.”

Armed men killed three Lebanese soldiers overnight and headed in their hummer to the Syrian territories.

Miqati said the government and the Higher Defense Council had given the army the authority to take the appropriate measures against such attacks.

He condoled Qahwaji on the death of the soldiers.

Furthermore, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri denounced, in a phone call with Qahwaji, the attack reiterating full support to the army and extending condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers.

“All the Lebanese denounce the horrific crime, which is an indicator and warning of upcoming dangers threatening national peace,” he said.

“The situation requires vigilance and wisdom on the part of political factions, and the army should be allowed to practice its duties in preserving civil peace,” said Hariri, stressing the necessity to distance Lebanon from the Syrian crisis.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea later condemned the attack, urging against exploiting the incident for petty political interests.

Hizbullah later issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the attack, saying that it tantamount to an assault against all Lebanese.

“It targets their security and fate because it was directed against an institution that guarantees this security,” it said.

It therefore announced its “complete solidarity” with the army, calling on the Lebanese people to support it and demanding that the concerned authorities take the necessary measures to avert similar attacks from taking place in the future.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani also condemned the assault against the army in a telephone call to Qahwaji and caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn.

He said in a statement: “The assault and the daily security incidents are part of attempts to create strife and chaos in Lebanon, especially since the army and security forces are all that are left of Lebanon's state institutions that are capable of maintaining its stability and safety.”

Later, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel denounced the attack against the army in Arsal, describing it as an “attempt to dirupt the role of the military and to intimidate it.”

He warmed from politically exploiting the assault, pointing out that the army should be granted the “full political cover to enable it to carry out its national role amid these delicate conditions.”