Lebanon Throws Support Behind Army as Offensive Against IS Begins
Lebanon threw its support Saturday behind its army after it launched an offensive to eliminate Islamic State jihadists that have been operating for several years in an area close to the Syrian border in the east of the country.
Lebanese nationals and politicians took to social media in a show of support for the army's mission.
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil said in a tweet: “With the the launch of 'Dawn of Outskirts' offensive, the whole country will witness victory. This is our strong army, this is strong Lebanon.”
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat said: “I wish the army success in its operation to liberate the outskirts of terrorists, for the sake of Lebanon and its democratic system.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani, MP Butros Harb, ex-PM Najib Miqat, Environment Minister Tarek al-Khatib, Minister for combating Corruption Nicolas Tueni and many others have all hailed the army's efforts in their tweets.
Lebanese Twitter users responded to a hashtag #فجر_الجرود or Dawn of the Outskirts, uttering indefinite support for their army.
“Our pride, God bless our heroes,” said one tweet.
“God save our army,” and “Our Lebanese Army is our pride... May God bless these young and brave hearts,” said others.
The Army announced Saturday the start of a long-awaited military campaign to clear Islamic State militants from a remote corner near the frontier with Syria, an offensive that seeks to end a years-old threat to neighboring towns and villages.
The army has accumulated steady successes against the militants in the past year, slowly clawing back territory, including strategic hills retaken in the past week.
The presence of extremists in the border area has brought suffering to neighboring towns and villages, from shelling to kidnappings of villagers for ransom. Car bombs made in the area and sent to other parts of the country, including the Lebanese capital, Beirut, have killed scores of people.
Source: Naharnet, Associated Press, Agence France Presse
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