Report: Country's Security 'Stronger than Ever'

As the result of the army's and security apparatuses strenuous efforts to preserve Lebanon's stability, the security situation is “under control now more than ever before,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

“It must be emphasized that the security situation in Lebanon is under control more than ever before. The Lebanese army and the various security apparatuses are on high alert to confront any emergency,” an unnamed security source told the daily.

“Our decision is clear. We will not allow the terrorists to exploit Lebanon and its border. The Lebanese arena is more immune today that ever as the result of army's and security apparatuses daily efforts to hunt down and arrest terror cells,” added the source that spoke on condition of anonymity.

The source emphasized: “However, we don't drop the possibility that terrorists could use an opportunity to strike Lebanon as compensation for their losses suffered in Syria. Accordingly, we assure the Lebanese that the path of the terrorists to Lebanon is arduous, yet the army and all the apparatuses are fully prepared to deal with any possibility.”

The security source's remarks came one day after the United States provided over 1000 machine guns to the Lebanese Armed Forces as part of the LAF’s ongoing efforts to improve border security.

The equipment includes 800 heavy machine guns and another 320 crew-served weapons, adding to battle-tested equipment already in the hands of the LAF. The machine guns will be used to increase firepower along Lebanon’s borders and will allow Land Border Regiments in the LAF to occupy and defend their border positions on schedule, a US embassy statement has said.

Militants from the IS and al-Nusra Front are entrenched in rugged areas along the undemarcated Lebanese-Syrian border and the army regularly shells their posts while Hizbullah and the Syrian army have engaged in clashes with them on the Syrian side of the border.

The two groups briefly overran the town of Arsal in August 2014 before being ousted by the army after days of deadly battles.

The retreating militants abducted more than 30 troops and policemen of whom four have been executed and nine remain in the captivity of the IS group.