Qahwaji Briefs Salam on Asoun Raid that 'Spared North Dangerous Attacks'

by Naharnet Newsdesk 24 October 2014, 18:35

Army chief General Jean Qahwaji briefed Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Friday on the details of the latest Dinniyeh raid, which led to the arrest and death of dangerous gunmen.

Qahwaji discussed in his visit to the Grand Serail “the security developments and efforts exerted by the army to fight terrorism in the country,” said the National News Agency.

The army chief informed the Prime Minister of "the details of the recent Dinniyeh raid that led to the death of three terrorists and the arrest of a fourth, and spared the North and Lebanon dangerous terrorist attacks that were in the making."

Army intelligence agents raided at dawn on Thursday an apartment in the town of Asoun in the northern district of Dinniyeh, which was inhabited by a “group of terrorists,” killing three gunmen and apprehending a fugitive.

The wanted man has been identified as Ahmed Salim Miqati, who was reportedly involved in beheading captive Lebanese soldier Ali al-Sayyed and recruiting defected army troops for the extremist Islamic State group.

Separately, Qahwaji shared with Salam the outcome of his recent visit to Washington, where he held talks with the military chiefs of the countries taking part in the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition.

"He also held talks with U.S. military officials over what can be provided to Lebanon" in the fight against terrorism, NNA added.

The meeting with Salam was also an opportunity to discuss the government's efforts to secure the release of the soldiers who were abducted by the IS and al-Nusra Front during the deadly Arsal battles in August.

For the past few months, the military has been coming under increasing armed attacks mainly in northern Lebanon.

Since August, the Lebanese army has been fighting militants from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front near the border with Syria.

Earlier that month, the extremists crossed into Arsal from Syria, capturing soldiers and policemen. Two of the soldiers have since been beheaded and one has been killed in captivity.

The attacks against the military rose after the Arsal gunbattles.

Z.A.

Y.R.

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