Qahwaji Says Army Should be Fully Ready to Confront Terror
Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji said in his Order of the Day on Friday that troops should be fully ready to confront terrorism and unite amid regional and local crises.
“You continued to confront terrorism relentlessly” and with “courage,” he told soldiers on the occasion of Army Day.
“The Lebanese army has reached a high level of professionalism in its confrontation of terrorist organizations,” the general said.
He urged the military “to be fully ready to confront terrorism and the Israeli enemy which continues to violate Lebanese sovereignty in different ways.”
“The strength of your institution lies in its unity,” he said, adding that troops stay at a distance from all sides and are committed to the National Accord.
“The regional crisis and continued Lebanese political divisions that have caused the presidential vacuum require your unity,” said Qahwaji.
This year, Lebanon celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Lebanese army's founding, a year after the attack of terrorists on military bases in the northeastern border town of Arsal, he added.
Al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and Islamic State group extremists overran Arsal in August last year and engaged in heavy gunbattles with the military.
They also took with them hostages from the army and police and later executed four of them.
The army chief vowed to exert all efforts to release the captives.
Qahwaji also urged troops to consolidate their “confidence in the nation” and “express pride” in the military institution which has protected Lebanon.
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