Soldier Killed, Another Wounded in Bekaa Raid as Army Arrests 'Dangerous' Fugitive
A soldier was killed and another injured on Wednesday during an army raid to arrest fugitives in the Bekaa, reported the National News Agency.
The Army Command issued a statement confirming the martyrdom of a soldier and the injury of another.
The communique said: "One soldier was martyred and another was wounded in (the Bekaa region of) Majdal Anjar after their patrol was targeted with gunshots during a raid in the region."
The army revealed that the patrol was able to arrest "one of the most dangerous fugitives in the country."
Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) identified the army's victim as Charbel Hatem and VDL (93.3) identified the wounded as Boulos Ashqouti.
NNA said that an army patrol in Majdal Anjar in the Bekaa was seeking the arrest of fugitives.
It raided the residence of Wissam Abdul Hafiz, but did not locate him.
The army then came under fire by unknown assailants as it was leaving the area.
Later on Wednesday, the Army Command issued a statement in which it clarified the circumstances of the incident.
"Unknown gunmen opened fire on an army patrol in the town of Majdal Anjar this afternoon, which left two soldiers wounded," the statement said, adding that one of them later died of his wounds and that troops returned fire.
"Army units took extraordinary measures which resulted in the arrest of one of the most dangerous fugitives, while efforts are underway to arrest the shooters," the statement added.
almost 11 years
Losing lives is the price we unfortunately must pay for freedom.
Arab countries are still good in that regard. Just see many lives the French or American revolutions suffered, and then see Egypt or Tunisia or Lybia. You just can't switch from a dictatorship to a democracy and hope everything will be ok in one go, you know? Hopefully with the aid of the west Arab countries can shed about a hundred years or so from the process.
In any case, although many problems in Lebanon are caused by external intrusions as in politics and various interests especially, this incident has little to do with those and to me seems to be a purely internal issue. In any case I digress; the Army must not be discouraged, but must continue to perseverate in face of obstructions of peace and the law to its full capacity. God bless the Army.
almost 11 years
you don't want to blame this on Aoun too?
almost 11 years
yes, it's the nusra or their PC cover, the FSA
almost 11 years
We lose soldiers due to the lack of government we have untill we say we have a government then we can get rid of HA and similar militias
And i agree he is a martyr R.I.P buddy
almost 11 years
R.I.P. Charbel
almost 11 years
nicely said, no one thought of Charbel Hatem , this soldier gave his life for his country . RIP Allah Yerhamak .
this is what ppl should say here, but no one really cares, they care about political agendas ,so sad
almost 11 years
Alleh yirhamu
almost 11 years
May he RIP.
Our (arab) mentalities have to change. «martyred» is so retrograde. We're in 2013 for Allah's sake.... Our soldier is a hero, not a martyr.
almost 11 years
MARTYR noun
1.
a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.
2.
a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause: a martyr to the cause of social justice.
3.
a person who undergoes severe or constant suffering: a martyr to severe headaches.
4.
a person who seeks sympathy or attention by feigning or exaggerating pain, deprivation, etc.
I just can't believe how many soldiers we lose in our own country. Why do we have so many inside of our country that hate our army? We need one strong army, and no militias.