Qahwaji Vows to Apprehend Arsal Assailants as Army Continues to Bolster Presence in Town
Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stressed that the army will not compromise in the pursuit of the assailants in the Arsal clash, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.
He told the daily: “We will pursue the perpetrators wherever they are and to whichever side they are affiliated with.”
No one can exploit this issue through fueling sectarianism, he declared.
“We will cut the arm that harms the army,” stressed Qahwaji.
Meanwhile, As Safir reported that the army has continued to bolster its presence in the Bekaa town of Arsal, by deploying checkpoints on all of the entrances of the town.
It has so far arrested a number of wanted suspects, without giving the exact figure, it added.
Voice of Lebanese radio (93.3) reported on Monday that 11 suspects have so far been arrested for being involved in Friday's clash.
General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi denied however to An Nahar daily Monday that 30 arrest warrants had been issued against suspects in the clash.
A file in the incident has been compiled and sent to the Army Intelligence in order for the appropriate measures to be taken.
He stated that he is overseeing the intelligence's investigations and no arrest warrants have yet been issued.
The clash erupted as the army was pursuing a suspect wanted on terrorism charges.
Two officers, Pierre Bashaalani and Ibrahim Zahraman, and the suspect, Khaled Hmayyed, were killed in the clash.
Military sources told As Safir that one of the arrested suspects is a Muslim cleric who is accused of creating incitement against an army patrol that was involved in Hmayyed's pursuit.
They stressed that the military institution is intent on apprehending all sides involved in the clash “in a manner that preserves the integrity of the state and army.”
They revealed: “The army is distinguishing between the majority of the residents of Arsal and armed groups that grew in power as the Syrian crisis developed.”
These groups are attempting to impose their authority in Arsal outside of that of the state, they explained.
Moreover, these groups have been implicated in five assaults against the army deployed in the region.
A military source meanwhile told An Nahar that Bashaalani was not killed accidentally in the clash.
The criminals wanted to send a message to the army and the slain officers were murdered “with sharp objects in a Taliban-style execution.”
over 11 years
one story? in your dreams.
over 11 years
but what about the 4 other bodies that that were delivered to the army? why not having an independent commission?
over 11 years
not only the terrorists assailants to be apprehended , but also their high level and regional backers
god bless lebanon
+ oua nabka +
over 11 years
Independent judicial investigation? Meaning you don't trust your government or your army. Who is going to pay for this IJI of yours, so it will be dependent.
over 11 years
It means Lebanese judges!!! This is something done in every civilized country where there is a contraversy. Imagine the cost otherwise.
over 11 years
There are two versions that of the army and that of the people from Arsal. The only way to find the truth is to have an independent commission. Have you never heard of "bavure" made by the authorities or the army in such and such country. The US soldiers made "bavures" in Irak; so much the French police when repelling a demonstration in paris in the 60's..... In all cases the judiciary made its investigation. Why can't we have the same.
over 11 years
trust in the army is unshaken, but trust in mukhabarat is broken especially that officer malek shamas was in charge of the operation.
the administrator can put that info it is magistrale
over 11 years
just for info there is 3000(threethousand) lebanese military officer and soldier from the town of irsal in the national lebanese army,it is very crucial to punish the criminals not the town,especially after the murder of officer abbas joumaa in ghobeiry, the crime of samaha, captain samer hanna, mar mikhail clash...i need a full page to continue....who gave the order to capture hmayed in the absence of kahwaji in paris??????
over 11 years
let this army deal with the killers of samer hanna. let it deal with all the hizbushaitan guys that have aggressed the army for several years.
where is the army and why has it not arrested the hizbushaitan member wanted for the attempted assassination of Harb?
what is the role of the army? be a cover for hizbushaitan?
over 11 years
If this gets swept under the carpet like everything else then there will be no hope for this country. Slaughtering members of the army and getting away with it is too much. What a shame
over 11 years
just start bombing the village!!!That will teach anyother thug to attack the army.
Long Live The Syrian Civil War!
over 11 years
And next mansour will be shouting "Long Live the lebanese civil war." Go hide under your sheet boy. I doubt if you have ever seen a mother holding her lifeless baby or a father burying his children to make such stupid comments. Have sone shame.
over 11 years
thats what liveleak is for idiot.....so i can watch the countless hours of destruction that is occuring in syria and may it last for 100 years!
Long Live The Syrian Civil War!
over 11 years
Any town or village who allow thugs to attack the army and then protect them needs to be BOMBED!
Long Live The Syrian Civil War!
once the syrian civil war reaches 100,000 i will hand out sweets.any suggestions on what type of sweets i should hand out?
over 11 years
whatever the story is, people need to be held accountable. If someone's action led to the events that cost these officers their lives then they need to be held accountable. Whether they are part of the army, Hizb or anyone else. However, we should not under any circumstance allow the killers to go free. They need to face justice. Just because hizb members got away with murder in the past does not excuse anyone else from committing murder. We need to try these killers and go back and try all the other killers. Period!
11 years
lebanonfirst what you are saying is 100% right. However, if the version of the inhabitants of Arsal is proven to be correct, it means that the Arsali were acting in self defense against an attack by Hizbullah helped by the Army. In that case we should point our fingers to the whole situation in this country whereby HA are freely carrying weapons, are above the law, are increasingly ruling this country and being helped by the Army.
There need to be an independent judicial investigation as to what happened. There are contradictory stories coming out and all are full of holes.