EU urges cooperation with Lebanon to fight terror

A senior European Union (EU) official has called for closer cooperation with Lebanon to fight terrorism, describing the scourge as a “common enemy.”

“We have a common enemy which is terrorism,” An Nahar daily quoted the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides as saying on Monday.

“It is beneficial to have deeper cooperation in that regard,” he noted.

Lebanon has been suffering from terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda-linked militants and random rocket attacks, which are viewed as a spillover of the conflict in Syria. Northern Lebanon has been the epicenter of fierce clashes between the supporters and opponents of the Syrian government.

“Terrorist attacks are not against a certain religion or civilization. We have a common enemy and people are assaulting our joint legacy,” the commissioner said.

Earlier this week, Stylianides announced that the EU is providing 37 million euros ($42 million) to assist Lebanon to cope with the inflow of Syrian refugees.

“Lebanon is not alone. The European Union stands by the government and the people of Lebanon,” he said during a visit to Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley region.

The Lebanese army has vowed to defeat Takfiri terrorists, saying it expects a war of “attrition” with the militants sneaking into Lebanon from neighboring Syria.