Suleiman, Army Say Will Take Measures against Syrian Attacks after One Person Injured in Arsal
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The army announced that it will immediately respond to any further cross-border attacks by the Syrian military after a helicopter gunship attacked on Wednesday.
"Army units deployed in the (Arsal) area took the necessary defensive measures to respond immediately to any similar violations," an army statement said, in a rare warning against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
President Michel Suleiman stated that Lebanon "has the right to take the necessary measures to defend its sovereignty," urging an end to the "Syrian violations" against Arsal.
"These raids put the security and safety of Lebanese people in danger and it contradicts with revolutions regulating the relations between both countries," he expressed in phone calls with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji and Head of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council Nasri Khoury.
The Army Command's communique came hours after a Syrian airstrike targeting Arsal injured at least one person earlier on Wednesday.
Several media outlets reported that the Syrian raids targeted the center of the town, whose residents back the rebellion against Assad, injuring Mohammed Ahmed al-Braidi.
LBCI said that the helicopter fired three rockets near Arsal municipality building.
The raid comes four days after such Syrian strike targeted Lebanon's border areas.
The latest raid comes soon after the Syrian town of Qusayr was captured by the regime army and Hizbullah fighters from the rebels after nearly three-weeks of fierce fighting.
Ever since the Syrian revolt erupted in March 2011, Arsal has become a key conduit for refugees and wounded people fleeing strife-torn Syria.
Security officials say the town has also served as a passageway for fighters and arms flowing into Syria.
12 June 2013, 14:18
194
residents of Arsal, if you want to live a quite life stop allowing arms and fighters to cross to Syria from your town.
The snake doesn't bite you if you don't touch him
12 June 2013, 15:47
19
That is an awful logic. Should we say the same when israel attacks the south? I would never do that but you are using the same words that they use after attacking the south. Or should the FSA attack cities and villages from where hezballah men leave to fight in syria and use the same words to the residents of those areas? Wallah 3ayb. I guess partition is the answer if this is how people will reason. Let pro bashar areas join bashars syria and let anti bashar areas join FSA:s syria or form a bunch of mini-lebanons such as lebnen el islemeh, lebnen el marouneh, lebnen el dirzi. It seems this is what people want. Lebanese nationalism has died and returned to being a nationalism of sects, ideologies and leaders.
12 June 2013, 17:12
07
When the Greeks conquered the Middle East, they wrote that they found the Persians to be cowards but smart and calculating. They wrote that the Arabs were brave but naive and impulsive. That was the 4th century BC.
12 June 2013, 23:04
10
rafehh, that is one of the most interesting historical facts about this region, but Lebanon is not just Arabs and Iranians. We have Western, Arab, Central Asian, Turkish, Armenian and north African blood.
12 June 2013, 17:02
27
BS! So it's ok to allow Iran, Russia and HA help a blood-thirsty murdering regime crush helpless freedom fighters? Good job to all those in Arsal!
12 June 2013, 18:36
03
That is an ignorant comment, the residents of the town are not responsible for the border, the government is. Unless, off course, Lebanon lives in clans and tribes and not in a governed nation.
12 June 2013, 21:43
20
M.C. if the people are not responsible, than why you allow corrupt politicians and clans rule your towns
get up and start a riot against them if they want to live in peace
12 June 2013, 21:37
40
you know I respect you 1 phoenix
just because one is doing , so the other should do it. That's our problem in Lebanon, we are involved in other people's business on both sides, try to build an independent and sovereign nation on your merits only
12 June 2013, 21:41
31
Banima I'm not you M 8 filth, I'm a tue Lebanese who thinks of only Lebanon, not Syria not Isreal, not Palastine, anyone who wants to fight these people go there, leave my country alone, including those corrupt politician on both side of the aisle.
That means alone every inch of the country
12 June 2013, 15:09
27
the Lebanese army is useless to protect Lebanese citizens against hizbushaitan murderers and the Syrian regime.
it should be scrapped. I do not see why we have to pay salaries to those who are supposed to protect us while they do nothing but protect our aggressors.
12 June 2013, 17:21
17
Why what did the army need to stop that black shirt from killing the protestor infront of the Iranian embassy ?
Our army has been moderately equipped the past couple of years but not well enough due to your friends. If our army does not have what it takes to do what's needed and protect us why are we kidding each other and wasting money ? Let's stop it until we can afford a real army a real protector against hizbulla thugs Israel or Syria
12 June 2013, 17:31
17
Wow HA must have done a great job on conditioning that pea brain between your ears BSThrower (aka farsi fagblower). You just can't stop wasting time defending these scums. Pathetic!
12 June 2013, 18:33
05
ft
each day your comments prove who is the habeel :)
stupidity after stupidity comes out from you.
how can you come with such crap?
if you are an indication of m8 then no wonder why no one is able to communicate with you guys!
12 June 2013, 20:59
01
Yeah, the army needs f-22 hornets and long range ballistic missiles to protect lebanese citizens from getting killed by sectarian thugs and terrorists during a peaceful demonstration. That is the Aouni logic!
12 June 2013, 15:29
17
if hizbushaitan cannot be overcome soon, then partition is the answer.
we do no want to live with these baby killers any more.
we do not want to live with people not paying their taxes/electricity bills/... while we are.
we do not want to pay an army that does not defend us rather it defends those attacking us.
12 June 2013, 15:35
27
Arsal is in Lebanon? Yes. A foreign government is attacking it with helicopters. Yes. Well then of course the Hezbollah Resistance is on the spot to defend Lebanese from border attacks, right? This is why they went to Qusayr, right to defend Lebanese border towns and Lebanese people there too?
But Hezbollah is not there ready to resist aggression against the people of Arsal? Oh that's right, Hezbollah is supporting those who are firing rockets from helicopters on to Lebanese soil.
Some Resistance they are. In fact this is no "Resistance" at all. The last veil has fallen off of the fat lady dancing. Now its just a fat ugly lady with no veils to cover the ugliness.
12 June 2013, 17:23
13
Superhabib - you did not answer the1phoenix. The 20000 you mention are refugees - mostly elderly, women and children.
12 June 2013, 17:23
22
Superhabib - you did not answer the1phoenix. The 20000 you mention are refugees - mostly elderly, women and children.
12 June 2013, 18:55
23
But you keep forgetting that the only ones who continuously killi Lebanese soldiers are the Salafists. Hezbollah has shown that even with as much control as they have, they are not forcing Christians to wear veils, convert, not drink, and whatever. That cannot be said for Salafis in Egypt and Iraq.
12 June 2013, 18:56
32
The actions of one lone deviant is not comparable to the actions of an entire group. And where was he reported to be Alawite? Syrian workers are mostly Sunni.
12 June 2013, 16:20
14
The army is to attack inside if somebody threats Hisbshit since when they did something logical to the country or to the weak people? They don't deserve the name or the uniforms!
12 June 2013, 16:41
04
Its sad that there is no unity in common sence. Too many will choose to support tyrants as long as he is from his religion.
12 June 2013, 16:53
05
weird show of force from the army... Why didnt the army move when that poor chiite was killed by HA next to the iranian embassy? That is the biggest reproach i have towards the army since 2008. What triggers it to move?
Mystery...
12 June 2013, 16:56
14
Wow... I'm just shelll shocked that the army FINALLY wants to respond to something... I'll only believe it when it happens and see news articles of it 0.0
12 June 2013, 17:17
04
The1phoenix - there are many heads (as you call them) to the Syrian people. There are those that wants freedom and liberty and this is the mass of people opposing the regime. Unfortunatelly, they were let down by the world. As for Lebanon, I am afraid you are right. Many Sunnis are starting to tell al-mustaqbal to f-off since they are unable to protect them or provide them with weapons to defend themselves. The rest will follow.
12 June 2013, 17:17
52
I am not defending any side in the Syrian war, however, I would like to mention that it the so called 'revolutionaries' who are the ones getting support from various countries and entities. Hezbollah supporting Assad's regime is nothing more than the support the 'revolutionaries' are receiving. If anything their public intervention is very recent.. I ask a simple question. Why do we criticize Hezbollah and the regime when the other side has been receiving money, weapons, logistics,and political support even before this all started? It's time people start to set aside their bias and take a deeper look at things.
12 June 2013, 17:20
04
Awireless - the moderate opposition and the syrian people is caught between a monstrous regime, radical elements and an indifferent world.
13 June 2013, 04:34
12
ooooh, the Army is gonna protect arsal from Syrian attackers, I'm sure the Syrians are peeing in their pants right now.
13 June 2013, 06:49
12
It would be something to see the Lebanese army at least once fire back at the Assad forces.
13 June 2013, 07:30
00
Unfortunately, what with the impasse over the elections, the attacks by Syria into Lebanese territory, and the free hand that Hizballah has in many areas of the country, I can only see a civil war breaking out in the not too distant future. This will not be one side fighting against the other, but 5 or 6 groups each fighting one another. May the Good Lord save Lebanon from total implosion.
13 June 2013, 08:52
11
2 questions:
1) does the president task mansour to file complaints or is he going to get someone who actually does the job?
2) if our army does retaliate, which side will hizb iran take?
13 June 2013, 14:27
10
Dear Mr.President! u talk the talk but can u walk the walk? In nahr le bared the army men use to throw bombs by hand!
