Bassil Says No One Must be 'Excluded' from Anti-IS Fight, Urges Weapons for Army

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil stressed Thursday during talks in Jeddah the importance of not “excluding any country or party” that is willing to counter the Islamic State and asked for military assistance to the Lebanese Army.

“There shouldn't be any exclusion of countries or parties that are willing to counter IS, since there is no reason or justification for such a rejection,” said Bassil during a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Arab and Turkish counterparts aimed at building an anti-IS coalition.

“The United Nations should take a decision to gather all the countries that are willing to be part of this fateful and existential war,” he added.

“Lebanon is a partner in this battle, and is a spearhead on the battlefront against the IS,” said Bassil.

He called for a plan to fight the IS in the region and Lebanon which involves “a U.N.-backed plan that includes all the countries that are willing to fight in this battle” and “military assistance to the Lebanese Army, which has proven its patriotism and professionalism.”

"Protecting minorities through giving them sufficient guarantees that they are an important component in the Middle East and rooted in their land of origin,” stated Bassil.

Earlier on Thursday, Bassil held a series of consultative talks with several officials who participated in the anti-IS meeting.

The IS militants pose a threat on Lebanon too. Last month, they attacked the northeastern border town of Arsal and engaged in heavy clashes with the Lebanese army.

The fighters withdrew from Arsal but took with them hostages from the military and the Internal Security Forces. They beheaded two of them.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to expand U.S. military operations against IS.

The group has seized a swathe of Iraq and Syria and committed horrifying atrocities, including the beheading of two American journalists.

G.K./Z.A.

H.K./Y.R.