Hariri Announces $1 bln Saudi Grant to Army: Hizbullah Didn't Participate in Arsal Unrest but Partly Responsible for It
Saudi Arabia has provided Lebanon's army with one billion dollars to strengthen security, al-Mustaqbal movement leader and ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri told reporters in Jeddah on Wednesday, accusing Hizbullah of being partly responsible for the clashes between troops and jihadists in the northeastern border region of Arsal.
King Abdullah "has informed me of his generous decision to provide the Lebanese army... with one billion dollars to strengthen its capabilities to preserve Lebanon's security," Hariri told reporters in Jeddah.
Speaking from King Abdullah's palace in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah, Hariri added that "we have received this aid."
"This aid is very important especially at this time when Lebanon is fighting terrorism," said Hariri at the overnight conference.
During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, the former Premier revealed that King Abdullah has tasked him “with supervising how this grant will be handled.”
“I will launch contacts with security and political authorities to address needs to fight terrorism,” he said, explaining that the grant is particularly addressed to the “army and to security institutions who are in charge of facing terrorism and extremism everywhere.”
“Eradicating terrorism is the responsibility of the state and its institutions that have always offered sacrifices for Lebanon's sake. No Lebanese group can be opposed to the army taking care of security matters," he continued.
"Some say the military institution is not capable of doing so but it is although it is not properly armed,” Hariri noted.
He elaborated on the Saudi king's initiative: “King Abdullah has warned of the spread of terrorism and has called on leaders and scholars to confront these terrorists that have tarnished the image of Islam. They are trying to present Islam to the world as if it was a religion of extremism, hatred and terrorism.”
In a related matter, Hariri considered that Hizbullah's involvement in Syria and its participation in the neighboring country's war “had a strong negative consequence on Lebanon and on the Syrian opposition.”
“It is a crime that Hizbullah goes to Syria and a crime also that terrorists come to Arsal and occupy it while this region has protected refugees for three years,” he stated.
“Hizbullah is largely responsible for what is happening in Arsal but it did not participate in the battles,” the former PM declared.
As for resolving the security crisis in Arsal, Hariri underscored the importance of negotiations, and stressed the need to save the Bekaa region and to return soldiers who are held captive by terrorists to their families.
“I address all the Lebanese to stress that national unity is the only siege that protects out country and it should not be sacrificed to serve foreign projects that aim at dragging Lebanon into sedition or involve the country in wars,” he said.
“We support legitimacy and the army to triumph over terrorism and Lebanon will not allow extremist groups to harm values of moderation and religious coexistence.”
Lebanese troops have been clashing with militants since Saturday in Arsal.
Sunni-dominated regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia is already financing a $3-billion package of French military equipment and arms for the army.
Army chief General Jean Qahwaji on Tuesday urged France to speed up the promised weapons supplies to help his troops.
Abdullah has expressed his oil-rich state's support for Beirut against "terrorism" during a phone call with former President Michel Suleiman.
The king also "stressed his determination to speed up the implementation of support for the Lebanese army," according to Suleiman's office.
Suleiman finished his term in office in May, but consensus has yet to be reached on his successor.
The fighting in Arsal is the worst violence to hit the volatile border region since the 2011 outbreak of the armed uprising in Syria against President Bashar Assad.
Lebanon is hosting one million Syrian refugees, and despite an official policy of neutrality towards the conflict in its larger neighbor, it has regularly seen the fighting spill over the border.
The Arsal violence has left 16 soldiers dead and 85 wounded, while dozens of jihadists are said to have been killed, along with three civilians.
S.D.B.
M.T.
over 9 years
it's the truth brainwashed jerry
over 9 years
Hariri: Saudi Arabia gives lebanese army $1billion.
Mohammad Radd: Iran gives Hizbollah $1billion!
LOL
over 9 years
Hey Ghandafar
your turbaned dude republic was silent during the bombing of Gaza
why didn't help then??
Pffffffffffffffffffffffffff
over 9 years
they were busy stoning women... censoring freedom and .. refining heroin and trying to hide nuclear bombs making tools....
over 9 years
U r right getting 6 month jail for killing an army officer on duty on hos hellicopter is a fair trial not like those islamist..
Ur friend Captagon buisness is better...
Ur friend berry is so clean, also applicable for the other, frangieh even said it some years ago on tv(if the other does it.. So he has some merrit admitting it not like aounist getting allied with all those and giving lesson about transparancy..
By the way bassilo look a lot less wealthy at the time tayyar flag was the omega (u remember the omega or u r a new age aouni/koumeh/labayaka ya nosrollah style..) bassilo should have worked really hard since toget that money.. Do u hv any infos? He has been making night shifts?...
Go have some chupachups de facto, if u want transparency u hv to be transparant and the "islah" usually don't come with berri/hezbollah....
over 9 years
And last tayyar used to distribut a magazin called samizdat back in the days they were with syrian accountability act and aoun preaching against hezbos arms in US, it used to say that syrians are responssable for 1,5billion lost a year? Was aoun lying then or it is all forgotten since they r now friends..
Chupachups man chupachups..
over 9 years
and gives ISIS 10 billion ,, whats the point tell your Saudi buddies to stop chopping peoples heads off ..
over 9 years
Idiot comment!
it is more than well known that it is Qatar backed by the US that is financing ISIL terrorists.
it is well known that KSA is behind removing the extremists muslim brotherhood from Egypt in direct contradiction to the US and Qatar.
it is well known that KSA and the other Gulf states (less Qatar) are driving for the moderate sunnis against extremsits backed by your friends the Qataris.
and let us not forget: choukran Qatar :)
over 9 years
wait.. how does this work? they give militants money to buy weapons, then they give the army money as well?
Oh well, at least we are all united with the Lebanese Army, may they destroy these militants and every foreign force that interferes with lebanese politics. what a bribe drivin country..
over 9 years
You know very well that Ksa is supporting the moderate Syrian opposition neither nusra nor is. It seems that the US, UK, Quatar are behind the terrorist.
over 9 years
the dwindelling FSA that was forbidden from any arm support and that was attacked on all front by the syrian regime, nusra and IS
over 9 years
Flame moderate syrian oosition like georges sabra, michel killo... U know guys without black turban on their heads, maybe believers maybe not but certainely not following ayatollahs, not hoing in jihadist duties in other countries, fighting against a regime that repressed lebnese and syrian people for decades, a regime that hv pit political opondnts in jail for more than 15 years (ama ryad el turk general secretary of the syrian comunist party then..) a regime that still hold grap on the faith of hundreeds of lebanese missing.. U know those kind of moderate oposition...
over 9 years
De facto on constate une fois de plus que defacto est un con!
over 9 years
je dirais meme plus un con
over 9 years
never argue with an imbecile... he takes you down to his level an win based on his large experience
over 9 years
So the main sponsor of terrorism is now sending aid to help stop it? LOL.
over 9 years
the main sponsors of terrorism in our region:
- iran
- Qatar
- the syrian regime
- the US
over 9 years
and no wonder you are always upset trying to defend your buddies the extremists iranian terrorists, as they are undefendable and show you as a traitor to Lebanon.
over 9 years
Well, hopefully this time this aid will be with the Lebanese Army while the battle is still on and while they need it.
We as Lebanese have been witnessing a lot of promises from KSA, USA, France, Iran,.... and still they are nothing but promises.
GOD be with our Army
over 9 years
what did your hizbullah and aoun and their government do to arm the LAF over the last 4 years? NOTHING.. arrogant mouthpiece!
over 9 years
u only know this ...ungrateful ignorant u do not deserve to stand on Lebanese soil...u will do anything to not safeguard it ....piece of filth
over 9 years
are you at work, @Southerner?
over 9 years
hehehe! yes he is here at work on this forum.
over 9 years
Just like iran is providing aid to its by proxy millicia, sending weapons, money (now a litle less but still) and a lot of advisors (u know like its advisors in syria, irak..)
Southern u r cheering for a religious millicia, u know da3ech shiite style...
Really southern, zahet...
over 9 years
on the contrary southern, when your state is victorious you go public and live out of pride and joy
bc this my friend is a "real" victory for moderation and for the country you are defending
now propaganda on the other hand is what you do best. btw propaganda is defined by "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view."
should i elaborate some more on how to use the term?
over 9 years
OK, talking about the truth? let us do that:
- Hizbushaitan is by far worse of an extremist terrorist iranian occupying entity than the worst other extremists.
- iran gave help and assistance to its entity and not the Lebanese state.
- hizbushaitan has been undermining the army for over 15 years
- Hizbushaitan has been threatening on daily basis the whole population of Lebanon
- ....
m8 guys: stop your BS. all weapons should be under the control of the Lebanese state forces and nothing else.
these are the only legitimate forces in our Lebanon, and anything else are terrorists.
over 9 years
Whether you like Hariri or not, whether you like KSA or not, the only proper and lebanese thing to say is THANK YOU!
over 9 years
no, nothing Lebanese about m8 guys.
it has been proven by their actions.
over 9 years
that would be your wish :)
but the fact of the matter is that hizbushaitan is drawing so much hatred to the shia community that its members might end up going to iran sometime soon.
over 9 years
another one of the most stupid comments ever posted by southerner.
each and every day he comes up with more stupid comments than the previous ones.
he must be related to ft undeniably :)
over 9 years
rayan which free knowledge sources do u trust for us to play a little who does what?
Meanwhile here's some food for the mind
while both equally fail in human rights, respect for minorities, etc.. there are still major differences that u cannot ignore
* one is a kingdom another is an Islamic state with a geopolitical name and axis
* on human development index, SA ranks 35 while I ranks 75
* on share of seats in the parliament - SA 19.8 while I 3.1- talking percentages here
* on education and Adult literacy rate SA 88 Iran 85
these are the human development indicators available for all
now enough with the "repressive backward discography" try using logic and facts
its more interesting for the audience
over 9 years
we can play the same game for freedom of expression, press, etc...
but what we know from history is that post-revolution, the iranian new state guards assassinated communists and liberals- the same people who led the manifestations and helped topple the shah- bc they thought differently
nowadays, them and their allies still execute even singers who go against bashar, HA, etc...
over 9 years
The usual suspects complain about the Lebanese army receiving aid, just like they complained about the US airlift of weapons to the Lebanese army during Nahr el Bared.
over 9 years
Nope Flamestarter that job was already filled a long to
The Syrians first destabilized the country by opening the Syrian borders to the Palestinians and they came from Syria with the refugees who were stationed in Lebanon. Together they destabilized Lebanon and called it a civil war, but it was not a civil war. They created it (the civil war). That's what we call in military terminology "indirect strategy." You make a problem and then you come to solve it. - Michel Aoun CBN September 12, 2002
over 9 years
Bravo man
In irak also hezbollah waited for oukab sa2er to go finance da3ech before sending the guys?....
Debile...
over 9 years
Hezballah is not in irak???
They did an official funeral for a hezbos comander dead during jihadist duty in irak last week!!!! Is was all over the news, even the moumani3in news...
3an jad debile, bi charfak zahet
over 9 years
"The source also noted that the remarks published for Nasrallah by As-Safir newspaper earlier on Tuesday were “just a small part of what he said during the meeting.”
“We are ready to sacrifice martyrs in Iraq five times more than what we sacrificed in Syria, in order to protect shrines, because they are much more important than [the holy sites in Syria],” Nasrallah said."
over 9 years
It's being used by Hezbollah to arm themselves
over 9 years
Did you forget who it was who rebuilt Beirut after the civil war?
over 9 years
Why don't you deposit the full amount of this donation in the Lebanese Army's bank account?
over 9 years
because they will buy yachts and ferraris with it.
over 9 years
The ultra idiot should google " Ibrahim Mohammed al-Haj "...
Defacto Ie mouwateh ,Ft ect ,read !!! Saudis are not giving any monies to Lebanese,they are paying France for weapons and equipment to be delivered to the Lebanese army ,Saudis like all other nations do not trust our crooked politicians .Read ya ghashim read,or perhaps you are only doing a job which you are paid for???