Army commander: Lebanon Faced the Most Dangerous Security Challenge in Past Hours

Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji said that Lebanon has face during the past 48 hours the most dangerous security challenge since the year of 2005.

In remarks to As-Safir Lebanese daily, Qahwaji tackled the attack on Dar al-Fatwa clerics Sheikh Mazen Hariri and Sheikh Ahmed Fakhran on Sunday.

He said that Sunday incident, and what had followed it of road blocks across Lebanon, was a sign of the ongoing sectarian and political tension in the country.

Qahwaji called on politicians and clerics to hold their responsibilities in order to put an end to all those who contributes to instigation against the other.

“Secure Lebanon internally so that the Army would engage wholly in the border,” the Army commander added, wondering how some politicians have been urging the army to assume its responsibilities in the border area at a time they contribute, through their rhetoric, to overexert the army internally and along the border.

As he urged the Lebanese to realize the danger enclosing their country, Qahwaji however said that Lebanon “is capable of overcoming all obstacles.”

The military institution will do all it can to prevent strife and confront perpetrators who seek to create instability, Qahwaji told As Safir.

He revealed that the army will take several measures in the next few days. But he did not provide further details.