Lebanon needs Iran help to restore security: Top cleric

Lebanese Shia cleric Sheikh Abdel Emir Qabalan says Beirut needs Tehran’s help to restore stability and security to the Arab country.

In a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Beirut Mohammad Fat’hali on Thursday, the Lebanese cleric praised Iran’s support for the Lebanese nation, government and army.

Lebanon needs help from its friendly countries, on top of them Iran, to restore stability and security to the Arab country, he added.

The cleric expressed hope that the Lebanese political groups would contribute to the restoration of stability to the country through prudence and vigilance.

On the same day, Lebanese cleric Sheikh Afif Nabulsi also welcomed Iran’s military aid to the Lebanese army in the fight against militants.

He expressed hope that the Lebanese army, by receiving military help from Iran, would manage to foil plots by Takfiri terrorist groups in the northeastern town of Arsal and its heights near the Syria border.

He also lauded Iran’s continued assiatance to Lebanon in hard times.

The cleric said the countries that pledged to provide military aid to Lebanon to fight terrorism have failed to fulfill their promise. He expressed hope that the Beirut government would embrace Iran’s military aid.

On September 30, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said in Beirut that Tehran would provide the necessary military equipment to the Lebanese army for the fight against terror.

Lebanon has been rocked by the spillover of the conflict in Syria, where the ISIL Takfiri terrorists are operating.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011 with ISIL Takfiri terrorists currently controlling parts of it, mostly in the east.