Kataeb Slams Ruling Class for 'Giving Up Sovereignty'

The Kataeb Party on Monday accused the ruling political class of “giving up sovereignty,” in connection with Hizbullah's operation in the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal.

“The Kataeb Party stresses the role of the Lebanese army in fighting terrorism and preserving Lebanon's sovereignty, security, stability and borders,” Kataeb's political bureau said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

The party “underscores its full confidence in the army's ability to win the Arsal battle and any other battle, the same as it has won several other battles,” Kataeb added.

“Accordingly, it holds the ruling political class responsible for giving up Lebanon's sovereignty and its duty to liberate its land,” the party said.

Hizbullah has seized most of the Arsal outskirts region from the hands of the jihadist al-Nusra Front group in a major offensive that has entered its fourth day.

The party is expected to launch a similar assault against the jihadists of the Islamic State group in the Lebanon-Syria border region in the near future.

The Lebanese army has stayed out of Hizbullah's operation but it has been repelling infiltration attempts by fleeing militants.