Lebanese Army commander : In Arsal, We Saved Lebanon from Terrorist Scheme

The Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji confirmed Monday that “in Arsal’s battle, the Lebanese Army [LA] saved entire Lebanon.”

“The terrorists were preparing for a catastrophe,” he said, and noted that, “Had the army lost, they would have succeeded.”

However, Qahwaji highlighted that, “The LA is strong and its morale is high as it cut the road on a scheme to change Lebanon and maybe erase it from the world map– their plan from a deadly sectarian rift.”

In an interview with as-Safir Lebanese daily, Qahwaji stated that he had informed the Lebanese Prime Minister [Tamam Salam] that, “Had the gunmen defeated the army in Arsal, then a deadly Sunni-Shiite sedition would have ignited Lebanon.”
“They would have entered Labweh and created a new dangerous demarcation line,” he added, and pointed out that, “They would have committed massacres in it.”

He also stated: “Had the LA lost Arsal’s battle, they would have entered Akkar, and from there they would have reached the sea and declared their own state.”

“This would have been a catastrophe,” Qahwaji warned.

“Through the blood of its martyrs and injuries of the wounded, the LA emerged victorious, thus averting a dangerous scheme planned against Lebanon.”

Moreover, he said, “What the LA has done is more than a victory.”

“Priority goes to the safe handover of the captured soldiers no matter how dearly this would cost us,” he said, warning that he had little tolerance for delay.

“This issue cannot be postponed,” he stressed. “I have informed the political leaderships of [this decision].”