Hariri: We Will Remain with Army, Every Outlaw Must be Dealt with in Same Manner
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday stressed that al-Mustaqbal movement “will remain with the army,” saying the military institution did the right thing by confronting Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir.
“The army offered major sacrifices and we must all embrace it,” Hariri said in an interview on Future TV.
“We in the al-Mustaqbal movement will remain with the army, no matter what they are saying and no matter how much they try and our project will remain the state,” he stressed.
“Let no one try to remove us from this path and we will remain firm and steadfast in this direction,” he went on to say.
Hariri revealed that he has been communicating with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji “amid this difficult situation” and saluted President Michel Suleiman “who followed up continuously on matters,” noting that “his sovereign stances protect Lebanon and the Lebanese.”
“The main problem in Lebanon is the proliferation of weapons in the hands of armed groups and this problem will lead to confrontations in the country,” Hariri pointed out.
“We will continue to say that arms are the main problem in the country,” he added.
Addressing protesters who took to the streets in solidarity with al-Asir, Hariri said: “Some people are seeking problems and when they block the roads they are blocking their own roads and this is not a solution.”
“The solution is not in forming groups such as Asir's group to confront the state,” he stressed.
“Perhaps the method (of dealing with al-Asir) was harsh but anything against the state must be dealt with in the same manner and no one is bigger than his country, and if anyone believes the opposite, a day will come and they will ask the state for help and protection,” Hariri noted.
“Today, the army made major sacrifices and it's about time we extended the the mandate of the army commander and to do something for the army instead of only praising it,” he said.
He called on Sidon's residents to be “patient,” hoping the southern city will restore its position.
Sixteen troops were killed and more than 50 wounded in clashes between the army and gunmen loyal to Islamist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir on Sunday and Monday.
A source close to Asir said at least five of his supporters had also been killed.
On Monday afternoon, the army stormed Asir's security zone in the Sidon suburb of Abra and arrested a number of gunmen as the Islamist cleric fled to an unknown destination.
Abra's clashes erupted when al-Asir's supporters surrounded an army checkpoint in the area, where a vehicle transporting other supporters of the cleric had been stopped.
After the armed men attacked the troops with gunfire, the army fired back.
Abra is home to a mosque where Asir used to lead the main weekly prayers on Fridays. The sheikh had claimed that Hizbullah uses apartments in Abra to keep him under surveillance.
He also said the Lebanese army has provided cover to Hizbullah, whose members are fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad's troops against rebels.
24 June 2013, 23:50
11
All this is good news for Hezbollah. Now the majority of Sunnis will further distance themselves from the Wahhabi ideology. The majority of Christians, Sunnis, and Shia support the Lebanese Army. Thank you Assir for uniting the people!
Hezbollah will continue to kill jihadi terrorists and FSA rebels by the thousands in Syria. The Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia will keep dreaming about a great civil war in Lebanon, but it'll never arrive.
24 June 2013, 23:58
95
All this is good news for Hezbollah. Now the majority of Sunnis will further distance themselves from the Wahhabi ideology. The majority of Christians, Sunnis, and Shia support the Lebanese Army. Thank you Assir for uniting the people!
Hezbollah will continue to kill jihadi terrorists and FSA rebels by the thousands in Syria. The Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia will keep dreaming about a big civil war, but it'll never arrive...
25 June 2013, 00:47
63
Let me clarify my last sentence...
The Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia will keep dreaming about a big civil war in LEBANON, but it'll never arrive.
25 June 2013, 01:22
45
It's the other way around,, Hezbollah sank in the Syrian quagmire and the people in Syria will earn their freedom whether you like it or not. It's amazing how racist people like yourself can become
25 June 2013, 02:05
05
danceexper - the major problem we have in lebanon is the Hizb, its army, the client militias it trains and arms (under the guise of saraya al muqawama), its usurption of the sovereign rights of the government, its storming of beirut, its storming of mount lebanon, its threats against governments it does not like, its killing of opponents, its protection of accused criminal from lebabnese and international justice .... When you have some parties in Lebanon above the law, it is normal that others will arm to protect themselves.
25 June 2013, 02:18
04
The mainstream "sunni" leaderships, with the support of Saudi Arabia, are openly backing the army. They realize that it is not possible to accept the prolifiration of armed groups like al-aseer group - but also the dozens under the guise of saraya al muqawama. The Hizb put its regional agenda above the interest of lebanon and got involved in support of a criminal regime that is widely hated among lebanese sunnis. They did so against the law and against the wishes of the government. They are betting that in the sunni community, the mainstream leaders are more afraid of chaos - which they rightly are. And better yet for the Hizb, set the army against the new armed groups in the sunni community. The army have no choice but to clamp down on these groups before they become too strong to control. The state may be able to survive with one monster (the Hizb) dominating it. It will not survive with two monsters fighting it out over what remains.
25 June 2013, 02:29
15
Supporters of HA can not be also supporters of the army. HA is against the State and its constitution while the army is the enforcer for the State and its institutions. The only problem is that HA is the stronger of the two and the army is not capable of dealing with it. This could change with time and Lebanon will then restore its sovereignty.
25 June 2013, 00:09
36
Only those who reject unity and one ruling government would vote benzona's comment down. You know who you are! You fear unity (democracy) because you thrive on suppression and being told what to do like zombies!
25 June 2013, 00:24
26
yeah man, it's been the same people spreading terror for years. Rafic fixes the country towards independence vis-a-vis Syria and becomes stronger, Bachar breaks his wrist. HA dynamites him.
Wissam al Hassan gathers evidence against Nasrallah and Bachar... bis repetita.
Anyone who speaks against his holiness, the omnipotent, the absolute being, known as the Sayyed Nasrallah or his owner in Syria gets dead. A promising politician such as Pierre Gemayel. My thoughts are for George Hawi, Samir Kassir, Bassel Fleihan, Gebran Tueni,Walid Eido, Antoine Ghanem, Wissam Eid, and the dozens of innocent citizens killed at the same time.
24 June 2013, 23:14
94
Hmm did you go through all this Asir trouble to make this point, Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri ?
24 June 2013, 23:15
94
“Perhaps the method (of dealing with al-Asir) was harsh". How should have it been, with peaches and cream?
24 June 2013, 23:33
95
So in brief:
- Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri enlists the services of Asir to stir trouble
- Asir dares not attack HA, which he says he is against, so he attacks the Army
- Asir is eventually defeated as he was meant to be
- Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announces blabla about "every outlaw", blatantly pointing at HA.
Nice. Nice. It's very nice.
24 June 2013, 23:35
82
Her aunt too would be implicated in the matter as well I reckon if this were substantiated further.
25 June 2013, 02:26
23
The great pierro! Still have difficulties thinking ? How was assir able to build his army and his base in saida ?? Isnt saida for those sunni thugs ruling lebanon with KSA s blessings??
25 June 2013, 11:36
21
Neil etc. it is so easy to accuse without evidence. This is something that too many of us do in Lebanon translating our wishful thinking and justifying our political stances. Hariri and his aunt have been repeatedly accused if supporting the salafist, arming Farah el Islam, etc... Yet zero evidence supporting this. In fact the salafist are foist if all the enemy of Sunni moderates.
24 June 2013, 23:48
74
Please worry about your french army and leave us lebanese alone you shmuck!
25 June 2013, 00:10
47
And you call HA angels of God Ya karim King Mustool? Who's in Syria killing away? Idiot!
25 June 2013, 01:26
26
Every suni to racist people like you are terrorist thugs, you hate hariri and a sir, tell Mr exactly how does your brain function? I think thou would love to nuke every sun I out there, only then would you be happy, little difference with Zionists who want every Palestinian dead
25 June 2013, 02:35
24
He has to talk like that, it is the only way to justify presencce of HA and its evil strategic plans for Lebanon
24 June 2013, 23:59
74
Asir is nothing but a dog .He has been barking for months ,where is he now ?
25 June 2013, 01:31
17
And hopefully the people who killed the protester of the embassy right under their cedar nose lol, some" army" , and the people who kiled sameer hana, an army against second class citizens us merely a battalion in Hezbollah army, what about arresting the four suspects in hariri killing, where is the marajil there?? Until then do not preach us about the army
25 June 2013, 01:31
52
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, you could donate a few godzillion dollars you inherited. How about that?
25 June 2013, 01:41
34
But you failed to say " bring Assir to justice to face prosecution". I am sorry, I have no respect for you.
25 June 2013, 01:47
48
I just finished skyping with my cuz in Saida.... well well well, I was not so surprised to hear that 3, yes, THREE teams of Hezbollah men were attacking Ahmad Assir's mosque and vicinity with the army. It was a set up against the Sheikh, it might not even be his men that opened fire on the army. will we ever know the truth about it? and my cuz is no M14er, he doesn't vote for anyone and never did.
So, it was a trap. Assir was expecting reinforcements that never came but apparently, this new humiliation of the sunni would not go unpunished. Time will tell.....
Poor soldiers who died in line of duty for a hidden Farsi agenda. 7araam.
25 June 2013, 02:29
25
Abass - rewrite your comment but sustitute Shia for Sunni and you will find how inappropriate your comment is. Is it possible that Assir was set-up? Yes. But it is also necessary to make sure that new armed groups do not become too strong to control. We have a monster in lebanon that dominates the state and its called the hizb and its allied militia. If the army allows opposing monsters to form, we are heading toward a civil war. At the end, we either have a state - a real one with unity of arm or we will continue to be a banana republic.
25 June 2013, 02:41
25
Are you calling Hezb Progressive and a shinning example of the 21st century civility? Look at that bridge in your eye first then point out the straw in someone else's.
25 June 2013, 02:36
24
I wonder how many excuses those supporting the hizb weapons and militias will come up with?!!! How about building a strong state? When the army faced a much bigger challenge in nahr al bared, where was the hizb?it was putting redlines for the army not to go into the camps. The saniora (yes m14) ignored the hizb and sent in the army. At that time, the army and the state were respected and especially by the sunni. The Hizb destroyed all of this when they stormed beirut and the mount showing that they are stronger than the state.
25 June 2013, 20:53
00
Yes of course, all the takfiris are a response to Hizbullah. It's not like, they follow a certain religion's bastardization, that's just ridiculous, it's definitely Hizbullah's fault.
Also, Hizbullah had put a red line due to civilian presence, but once it realized some civilians were helping terrorists and many civilians were evacuated, the red line was removed and the Army's intervention welcomed with open arms.
25 June 2013, 02:38
15
The army did well ridding us of Asir. Now they have to go the nexxt step and show their Bravado in dealing with the stronger evil Hezb. Go army go. And RIP for those killed, may God bless your souls and your families.
25 June 2013, 12:17
00
LOL!! Hezbollah helped the army, the army would have been torn to shreds! But sounds like you are really tough, you should join the army and help them take out Hizbolallah!!! Hahaha
Or since Saad talks big he should also
Join the fight, oh oops!! but he is in Saudi his country.
25 June 2013, 02:42
24
Your Hezb gave birth to those Takfiris, both of you justify the presence of the other. May God rid us from both of you so we can build a real State.
25 June 2013, 04:04
51
Assir and chakker aka Thelma and Louise have just driven off a cliff holding hands and expressing their love for one another. Hahaaaaaaaa..
25 June 2013, 05:02
26
I am not necessarily a fan of Hariri but I appreciate his perspective here.
Another thing, what the hell is it with all the sectarian posts...I can see the posts getting uglier, along with Mowaten and the other retards. Have a mind of your own.
25 June 2013, 05:19
52
The dog of the KSA and backer of extremism in Lebanon has come up for air again from underneath the 3abiyi of his masters. I am sure the LAF or Lebanese people don’t need your fake and meaningless words as it’s a known fact that you backed this asir salafi scum to begin with! You are as guilty as he is and should be made to answer for your deeds along with your masters being KSA providing funding for extremists in Lebanon, Syria and other countries. I hope that your day will come one day soon, where you will be exposed for the traitor that you are to the Lebanese people..
25 June 2013, 06:24
32
Up until a day or so ago, we had one cheikh al-Haribi Telteyn al-Marajil, cheikh Saad, the wonderboy. Now we have two, the second one being cheikh Ahmad al-Asir al-Haribi Telteyn al-Marajil. More are on their way as these Sanni cheikhs get crazier and crazier and crazier, this in addition to being filthier than the filthiest filth. takbir!
25 June 2013, 09:56
21
I wished Hariri was as smart as he has become now when he was PM. We could argue that his weakness as PM gave more way for Hezb to continue their domination. He should have never agreed to Berri's re-appointment.
25 June 2013, 11:14
20
"Every Outlaw Must be Dealt with in Same Manner"
I completely agree, a bullet in the back of the head.
25 June 2013, 12:10
00
God Bless Sayyed Hassan, with out him,none of you would be having this debate you would be under Zionist rule!!! As for Saad he needs to grow up and get a backbone or just continue to live in Saudi and shut up! I don't understand why the Lebanese people just worry about your domestic life that is below, way below world Standards and quit worrying about Syria and everyother country that does not care about you!!!! I don't believe that if Hizbolallah existed or not you would have electricity, water, organization, rights, medicine, proper medical care, or less corruption! I think you people should wake up and smell the coffee! Start demanding a better life and screw all these leaders that are screwing you!
25 June 2013, 16:08
11
It was important for Hariri to make this statement, even from self imposed exile from Lebanon. The likes of Asir have to be isolated, especially by fellow members of his sect. Hariri's statement is a sign that the moderate Sunni, at the least, see their future in Lebanon tied more to the success of the entire country rather than the promotion of their own confessional group.
Lebanon is a house with many rooms. To save the room at the expense of the house is to lose the room as well.
