Abou Faour Says Assad Plotting Assassinations in Lebanon to Interfere in Country's Affairs

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour accused on Saturday the Syrian regime of committing assassinations in Lebanon, expressing fear that the presidential crisis could lead to a “constitutional vortex.”

“I believe that when (Syrian President Bashar) Assad feels that he is militarily comfortable he will have more time to tamper with the situation in Lebanon,” Abou Faour said in an interview with the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

He pointed out that there are expectations that Assad's regime “will further interfere in Lebanon through various means, which begin with political intervention and end with assassination bids.”

“The aim is to incite sedition in Lebanon, maybe he (Assad) is delusional and thinks he can control Lebanon,” Abou Faour said.

The minister, who is loyal to Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, lauded the efforts exerted by the Lebanese army to preserve the country, stressing that it is “coherent and ready to offer sacrifices.”

“The main malfunction limiting the abilities of the military is the modesty of its capabilities,” the Druze official said, pointing out that the “army is only interested in safeguarding the Lebanese border.”

The army has been targeting gunmen along the country's eastern border to prevent Islamist gunmen from advancing as jihadists remain entrenched on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal on the porous Syrian-Lebanese border.

The Islamic State, which controls several areas in Syria and Iraq, aims to spread to Lebanon as its fighters position in the outskirts of Bekaa towns bordering Syria and the Lebanese army is in adamant efforts to stop their efforts to infiltrate the country.

Concerning the presidential vacuum, Abou Faour expressed concern that the matter would impact Lebanon's political system, accusing the allies of Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun of obstructing the election of a new head of state.

“It is clear that the allies of Aoun, like Hizbullah, are holding onto his candidacy in spite of him lacking the necessary conditions to be elected,” he noted.

“Those who reject the election of a consensual candidate are behind the presidential deadlock.”

The minister stressed that Aoun has his political and popular weight but the president isn't only for Christians, he said: “if the Christian parties had agreed on one nominee the situation would have differed.”

He lauded the understanding between the Lebanese to fend off the escalation of the security situation in the country despite the political rift.

Abou Faour considered that MP Henri Helou is a “consensual candidate” for the presidency, pointing out that the PSP is holding onto him.

Aley lawmaker Helou was nominated by Jumblat for the presidential race. The Druze chief continuously described Helou as a “voice of moderation.”

MPs failed on several occasions to elect a new head of state over lack of quorum. President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May without the election of a successor.

Hizbullah and Aoun's Change and Reform bloc have been boycotting electoral sessions due to a disagreement with the March 14 camp over a compromise presidential candidate.

Asked about the Saudi-led offensive against Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen, Abou Faour described it as a “brave and bitter” decision that aims at safeguarding the security of Saudi Arabia and the Arab world.

“We support it as the ongoing proliferation of Iran and other countries in the Arab world and scattering its communities shouldn't continue,” he remarked, downplaying the repercussions of the “Decisive Storm” military operation on Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia launched an offensive against Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen to reinstate what it called the legitimate government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

It said it had assembled a coalition of more than 10 countries for the military intervention, including five Gulf Arab states and Egypt.

H.K.

D.A.