Ghosn: Army Has Clear Orders to Respond to Any Attack, Won't Accept Conditional Grant
Caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn on Monday stressed that “the Lebanese army has clear orders from the political authority to respond to any attack against Lebanese territory in the vein of what happened in Arsal.”
"The Lebanese army is protecting Lebanese territory and we're very clear when we say that the army is separate from politics and political bickering," Ghosn said in an interview with LBCI television.
He noted that ever since the Syrian crisis broke out in March 2011, "the Lebanese army that is deployed on the border was in full preparedness and utilized all its capacities to respond to anything that might affect the country's unity and structure."
Ghosn's remarks come after the Lebanese army fired anti-aircraft guns at Syrian helicopters earlier on Monday after they carried out a raid on the Bekaa border town of Arsal, in the first such response.
Asked about Saudi Arabia's decision to donate three billion dollars in weapons to the Lebanese army, Ghosn said he welcomes any donation but emphasized that it must not be “conditional.”
“The army does not accept any conditional donation whichever side it may come from,” said the defense minister.
“The Saudi donation must be discussed by cabinet and the Army Command must be informed of the suggested weapons so that it can specify its needs,” he added.
In response to another question, Ghosn said his Hizbullah-led political camp might have certain fears that “the donation to the army might be part of the domestic political bickering in the country.”
On Sunday, President Michel Suleiman announced that Saudi Arabia has pledged to grant Lebanon three billion dollars with the aim of purchasing French weapons for the Lebanese army as soon as possible.
In its evening news bulletin, LBCI said the donation needs to be approved by the Lebanese cabinet and that the funds will be given to France to equip the army with weapons.
Separately, Ghosn said security forces are conducting the investigation into the assassination of former minister Mohammed Shatah “in full confidentiality,” revealing that “there are some leads that might help unveil the truth.”
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