Bassil Says No One Must be 'Excluded' from Anti-IS Fight, Urges Weapons for Army
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil stressed Thursday during talks in Jeddah the importance of not “excluding any country or party” that is willing to counter the Islamic State and asked for military assistance to the Lebanese Army.
“There shouldn't be any exclusion of countries or parties that are willing to counter IS, since there is no reason or justification for such a rejection,” said Bassil during a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Arab and Turkish counterparts aimed at building an anti-IS coalition.
“The United Nations should take a decision to gather all the countries that are willing to be part of this fateful and existential war,” he added.
“Lebanon is a partner in this battle, and is a spearhead on the battlefront against the IS,” said Bassil.
He called for a plan to fight the IS in the region and Lebanon which involves “a U.N.-backed plan that includes all the countries that are willing to fight in this battle” and “military assistance to the Lebanese Army, which has proven its patriotism and professionalism.”
"Protecting minorities through giving them sufficient guarantees that they are an important component in the Middle East and rooted in their land of origin,” stated Bassil.
Earlier on Thursday, Bassil held a series of consultative talks with several officials who participated in the anti-IS meeting.
The IS militants pose a threat on Lebanon too. Last month, they attacked the northeastern border town of Arsal and engaged in heavy clashes with the Lebanese army.
The fighters withdrew from Arsal but took with them hostages from the military and the Internal Security Forces. They beheaded two of them.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to expand U.S. military operations against IS.
The group has seized a swathe of Iraq and Syria and committed horrifying atrocities, including the beheading of two American journalists.
G.K./Z.A.
H.K./Y.R.
over 11 years
Are you trying to make a point? Or just showing us how ignorant you are of how diplomacy works?
over 11 years
comment on the article and stop harassing people. You think you're some big shot, well you're not. He is entitled to his opinion and nobody needs a lesson in diplomacy from you.
over 11 years
lol ex-fpm, you and your 20 fake accounts all comment frenetically on each and every one of my comments, and you're feeling harassed?
if you cant deal with contradictory opinions without making a fuss then maybe you shouldnt try to debate.
over 11 years
How can you have anti-IS talks in the country that created them?
over 11 years
Or the country that buys their oil (Syrian regime).
US goal is to eradicate ISIS without propping up the Syrian regime. As long as HA is helping Assad, the LAF will be excluded from being armed and from being included in the fight against ISIS.
over 11 years
what will please people of your kind, say?!
over 11 years
Do you guys really think this is about hitting ISIS?????
Please dont let yourselves be fooled by this nonsense.
This is just another "failed" idea by the West and its puppets to target Syria.
What country do you think is the next after Syria???
Fools....
over 11 years
I hope the next country after Syria is Iran.
over 11 years
well said Southern
over 11 years
where is flamethrower to answer all you critics?!
over 11 years
hes in the wrong place if he wants to ANTI ISIS talk.
saudi arabia is the land and godfather, the chief tender, of terrorism.
over 11 years
yes full disclosure for sure
over 11 years
Bassil is the representer for Syria and Iran.
Go play little man go play.. One day your master Bashar in Syria will be hung upside-down and you will be left wondering.
Every time I think about you or your in-law Aoun (the clown) , the word TFEH comes to mind.
over 11 years
The USA will bomb ISIS or any other terrorist no matter where, if ASSad controls the area then he should complain, otherwise shut the hell up and watch the fireworks.
over 11 years
If the terrorist are English should we bomb England too? Doesn't make any sense... We went to Afghanistan because Bin-ladin live there.
over 11 years
Terrorist Zionist your country gets a check every year from US taxpayers. Is that what you mean??
over 11 years
“There shouldn't be any exclusion of countries or parties that are willing to counter IS, since there is no reason or justification for such a rejection"
It's like he's the leader of the UN trying to determine who can be allowed into the anti-IS coalition. Flamer, stop copying this stupid article about Turkey arming ISIS. Turkey has been arming the entire opposition since the start of the war, it isn't a secret. There's a difference between being a NATO member and having good relations with the US, which Turkey doesn't enjoy. Just an example, I went to Turkey this summer, and on arrival I had to get a visa. Who would've thunk it, Americans having to get visas in another NATO country? Strange what NATO members do to each other...
over 11 years
Basil for president!
over 11 years
Once uncle Micho meets his maker, Habil will disappear.
Bassil will meet with John Kerry? LOL it is not Disney World you know:)