Qahwaji Says Bloodshed Avoided over Army Procrastination in Settling Tripoli Battles
Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji said on Wednesday that the military wanted to avoid bloodshed by not interfering immediately in the deadly fighting between the residents of rival neighborhoods of the northern city of Tripoli.
“Every time incidents happen, the army is accused of procrastination in settling” the fighting, Qahwaji told al-Akhbar newspaper.
“The military was capable of resolving (the problem) from the first minute and move with heavy artillery to respond to the sources of fire but the cost would have been high,” he said about the latest round of violence between the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.
“The army wanted to avoid bloodshed in Tripoli …. although we didn't stand idle because we sought to communicate with all the officials and inform them that we won't allow blood to spill in Tripoli,” Qahwaji added.
The army chief also said he had warned the officials that troops would clash with the fighters from both Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen and would enter the two areas if the need arises.
He revealed that he drew the plan for troops to enter the hotspots last Friday but two days later the Higher Defense Council gave it the political green light to enter the city after an obvious deal with Tripoli officials to withdraw fighters from the streets.
“The army has drawn a tight security dragnet in both areas to prevent arms and ammunition from coming in,” Qahwaji told al-Akhbar. “There is a thorough and full inspection of suspects at all checkpoints.”
Qahwaji refused to set a deadline for the army's unprecedented plan in Tripoli, which is based on “responding to the source of fire with a direct hit,” saying it “will stay there as long as some (people) are seeking to tamper with its security.”
Asked about the possibility of disarming the fighters in Tripoli, Qahwaji said: “A decision to collect weapons is taken by the political authority and the government.”
“But we will not remain silent to any armed man who confronts the calm in Tripoli,” he warned.
On criticism that the military had shelled the city, Qahwaji said: “We never used heavy artillery to respond to the sources of fire. We only used 12.7mm machineguns and Rocket Propelled Grenades.”
Although calm was restored in the city following the army's deployment in the hotspots starting Sunday night, the army chief said the security plan wasn't enough.
“There should be political consensus and the fulfillment of promises to develop the (impoverished) areas which have been promised with 100 million dollars of projects,” he said.
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