Charbel: Security Raids Will Continue until All Suspects are Arrested

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed that none of the wanted suspects in Lebanon enjoy political cover, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

He told the newspaper: “The Lebanese army will continue its raids until all wanted suspects and gangs are arrested.”

The March 8 and 14 camps have backed the army in this mission, he declared.

“The criminal gangs are alien bodies in Lebanon's society and they will receive the appropriate punishment,” added the minister.

“All the security forces, starting with the army, will perform their duties in this matter,” Charbel said.

“Citizens will soon begin to realize the results of these efforts,” he stated.

On the raids conducted in Beirut's southern suburb of al-Ghobairi on Friday, he told al-Liwaa newspaper: “The raids are part of a security plan that has been devised by the security agencies.”

“This plan will continue until security is restored,” he stressed.

Similar raids are taking place in locations of wanted suspects in the North and all other Lebanese regions, revealed the interior minister.

Meanwhile, a prominent military source stressed to As Safir that the army will not be lenient with any assault against the citizens and their security.

The army had conducted on Friday a raid on al-Ghobairi in search of a wanted suspect, identified by media reports as Antar Karaki.

Two officers and a number of soldiers were wounded in the clashes that ensued when gunmen opened fire at the army.

The suspect remains at large.