ISF denies 'Soldiers of God' intervened after robbery call

The Internal Security Forces on Thursday denied claims by MP Paula Yacoubian alleging that the newly-formed hardline Christian group Soldiers of God had intervened following an alleged robbery in Ashrafieh.

In a video circulated on social media, Yacoubian had said that a woman in Ashrafieh had called the relevant police station to report a robbery, after which young men from the Soldiers of God group arrived and told her that they had been "informed by the police station" about the incident.

“After the gathering of information and a follow-up, it turned out that no call in this regard had been received by any of the Ashrafieh, Gemmayze or Nahr police stations,” the ISF said in a statement.

“The Beirut Police Operations Room also did not receive any call from a woman in this regard,” the ISF added.

Moreover, it stressed that it has “no relation or contact with the group mentioned by MP Yacoubian,” adding that the issue of the group is being “followed up” by the ISF and that it “rejects any idea based on the principle of vigilante groups.”

And stressing its “commitment to preserving security and order” and “aiding citizens so that they enjoy serenity and safety,” the ISF called on Yacoubian to verify her information with ISF’s officers before making such statements.