Muallem Sends Memo to Mansour, Urges Lebanese Army to 'Control Border'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Damascus on Thursday called on the Lebanese army to "control the border to preserve security and stability," in the wake of Wednesday's Syrian air raid on the Bekaa border town of Arsal.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said he received a memo from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem about the situation on the border between the two countries.
Muallem cited the security agreements signed between Lebanon and Syria and underlined Damascus' "keenness on Lebanon's security," Mansour said.
The Syrian minister "stressed the importance that the Lebanese army control the border to preserve security and stability," urging Lebanese authorities to "take the necessary measures that strengthen the joint efforts between the two brotherly countries and peoples, in the framework of mutual keenness on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two states."
The Syrian memo comes after a Syrian helicopter gunship bombed Arsal on Wednesday morning, prompting the Lebanese army to issue an unprecedented statement in which it warned that it will immediately retaliate to any future attacks, as President Michel Suleiman threatened to file complaints with the Arab League and the U.N. Security Council.
The United States condemned the attack as an "unacceptable provocation which risked dragging Lebanon into war.”
Hours after the helicopter gunship fired missiles at Arsal, Syria's army command said it respects Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The army said it will continue to target rebels across Syrian territory, but that it is "committed to respecting the sovereignty of the Lebanese republic, its territorial integrity and the safety of its people."
Using the term "terrorist" to refer to rebels fighting President Bashar Assad's regime, the army command said the strike came after "one of the air force's helicopters spotted an armed terrorist group as its members tried to flee towards Lebanese territory."
13 June 2013, 20:10
18
Big man, pig man, ha ha charade you are.
You well heeled big wheel, ha ha charade you are.
And when your hand is on your heart,
You're nearly a good laugh,
Almost a joker,
With your head down in the pig bin,
Saying "Keep on digging."
Pig stain on your fat chin.
What do you hope to find.
When you're down in the pig mine.
You're nearly a laugh,
You're nearly a laugh
But you're really a cry.
13 June 2013, 21:12
03
This is excactly the kind of people that Roger Waters had in mind when he wrote those lyrics.
Elias - Canada
14 June 2013, 02:06
15
This is the first time I agree with Muallem. The Lebanese army should control the border and prevent Hizb terrorists from crossing the borders. I am however with two minds: should the army prevent them from crossing into Syria or from coming back?
13 June 2013, 21:52
23
Well Banimaroof, it's been extremely interesting. You taught me a lot. I've read something new today. Thank god all Shiites don't do such extreme things although life seems to be worthless to the,. We witnessed it again 3 days ago in front of the Iranian embassy in beer Hassan.
I noticed that men get death for leaving Islam and women only jail time. How unfair....
14 June 2013, 00:20
22
It's as if you're trying to imply there aren't any repulsive excerpts from Sunni literature or ones that are even more gruesome. You sir, need to learn how to be balanced in your judgement.
13 June 2013, 20:46
31
Actually @haile.selassie, beg to differ you as your statement is not true. It would be if the army was able to control HA as well as other Sunni fighters from executing violent acts across the border. Given that the army is all but incapable of controlling Hizbollah then the above statement is rendered untrue and unworkable.
13 June 2013, 20:53
33
A man like Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini outside of Iran (And the Dahieh in Lebanon of course) would go to jail for life for being a child molestor... When will the day come and see people in Iran topple this so-called religious group and create a real country for themselves... It will happen... Look at Syria now.. No one expected ASSad family would lose grip on the country, but it happened...
13 June 2013, 21:15
24
I believe that there were calls for the UNIFIL's troop mandate to be extended to the Syrian/Lebanese border---guess who refused?
13 June 2013, 22:16
23
STOP THE WHOLESALE HATE ABOUT THE SHIA!!
Hate Hezbollah as much as you want and more power to you. Hezbollah is Shia BUT NOT ALL THE SHIA.
I'm a Maronite, a life-long LF and one of my oldest friends, MY BEST FRIEND, is a Shia.
Get a grip, people!
13 June 2013, 22:18
12
By the way, my post above is valid for the Sunnis, of course. I have worked with Sunni colleagues for 20 years. Fine, decent people and many of them are dear friends.
13 June 2013, 22:39
12
Really Mr. Moallem? So if your "rebels" make it to Beirut, you'd carpet bomb it ha? Thanks for raping our sovereignty. I mean, respecting.
13 June 2013, 22:47
14
Can we now make peace with Israel (like more than a couple of GCC friends who have regular flights to/from Tel Aviv) and be done with it? At least it's a much more progressive nation than the ones around.
13 June 2013, 23:07
23
Give it time and it will eventually happen. Peace is the only civilized, sensible solution. But it must be a win/win peace or it won't last.
13 June 2013, 23:16
05
Israel only wants Shibaa farms out of spite (there's too little irrigable, fertile land and not much water that Israel wants so much). We want Shibaa farms out of spite, just because Israel wants it. But hey! NO!
14 June 2013, 03:19
21
The road to Palestinian is via Qusayr? In the end, Europe and America's will is going to come true in Syria then Lebanon.
14 June 2013, 03:22
22
Stop lying to people, anyone who opposes you in a democratic way, you basically eliminate by a car bomb or you claim that he has mental issues and committed suicide (i.e. Ghazi Kan3an and his brother)
14 June 2013, 07:09
12
Assad's regime attacks Lebanon and then this disgusting tub of lard sends a memo of complaint, next they will send a bill for the ammunition they used. I bet that weasel Mansour helped him write it.
14 June 2013, 13:32
00
ma ya Tabell chi marra khallaytou lebnen yrassem 7oudoudou ma3kon?!
