Mashnouq Says Army to Succeed in Battle against Terrorists, Rejects Cooperation with Syria
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq stressed on Wednesday that the Lebanese army can confront terrorists and emerge successful from the battle, saying that the government will not cooperate with the Syrian army to end the armed clashes in the northeastern town of Arsal.
“The only problem confronting the army is safeguarding civilians,” Mashnouq said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.
He pointed out that if gunmen failed to withdraw from the Bekaa valley town, then the army will have to open safe corridors to ensure the safety of civilians and cordon off the area.
Mashnouq said that negotiations between the armed men and the Muslim Scholars Committee are ongoing, revealing that new Internal Security Forces members might be released soon.
“During the upcoming two days things will be clear,” the minister said.
He pointed out that “the armed men now realize that the battle with the Lebanese army is not as easy as they thought.”
The Arsal violence has left 16 soldiers dead and 85 wounded, while dozens of jihadists are said to have been killed, along with three civilians.
Another 22 soldiers are missing, possibly having been taken hostage.
The militants have also detained 20 policemen, three of whom were freed on Tuesday.
The releases were reportedly part of negotiations for a ceasefire, but shelling resumed after they were freed.
The fighting started Saturday after the arrest of a Syrian man who the army said had confessed to being a member of Al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaida affiliate battling President Bashar Assad's forces.
H.K.
G.K.
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