Hariri Announces $1 bln Saudi Grant to Army: Hizbullah Didn't Participate in Arsal Unrest but Partly Responsible for It
Saudi Arabia has provided Lebanon's army with one billion dollars to strengthen security, al-Mustaqbal movement leader and ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri told reporters in Jeddah on Wednesday, accusing Hizbullah of being partly responsible for the clashes between troops and jihadists in the northeastern border region of Arsal.
King Abdullah "has informed me of his generous decision to provide the Lebanese army... with one billion dollars to strengthen its capabilities to preserve Lebanon's security," Hariri told reporters in Jeddah.
Speaking from King Abdullah's palace in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah, Hariri added that "we have received this aid."
"This aid is very important especially at this time when Lebanon is fighting terrorism," said Hariri at the overnight conference.
During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, the former Premier revealed that King Abdullah has tasked him “with supervising how this grant will be handled.”
“I will launch contacts with security and political authorities to address needs to fight terrorism,” he said, explaining that the grant is particularly addressed to the “army and to security institutions who are in charge of facing terrorism and extremism everywhere.”
“Eradicating terrorism is the responsibility of the state and its institutions that have always offered sacrifices for Lebanon's sake. No Lebanese group can be opposed to the army taking care of security matters," he continued.
"Some say the military institution is not capable of doing so but it is although it is not properly armed,” Hariri noted.
He elaborated on the Saudi king's initiative: “King Abdullah has warned of the spread of terrorism and has called on leaders and scholars to confront these terrorists that have tarnished the image of Islam. They are trying to present Islam to the world as if it was a religion of extremism, hatred and terrorism.”
In a related matter, Hariri considered that Hizbullah's involvement in Syria and its participation in the neighboring country's war “had a strong negative consequence on Lebanon and on the Syrian opposition.”
“It is a crime that Hizbullah goes to Syria and a crime also that terrorists come to Arsal and occupy it while this region has protected refugees for three years,” he stated.
“Hizbullah is largely responsible for what is happening in Arsal but it did not participate in the battles,” the former PM declared.
As for resolving the security crisis in Arsal, Hariri underscored the importance of negotiations, and stressed the need to save the Bekaa region and to return soldiers who are held captive by terrorists to their families.
“I address all the Lebanese to stress that national unity is the only siege that protects out country and it should not be sacrificed to serve foreign projects that aim at dragging Lebanon into sedition or involve the country in wars,” he said.
“We support legitimacy and the army to triumph over terrorism and Lebanon will not allow extremist groups to harm values of moderation and religious coexistence.”
Lebanese troops have been clashing with militants since Saturday in Arsal.
Sunni-dominated regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia is already financing a $3-billion package of French military equipment and arms for the army.
Army chief General Jean Qahwaji on Tuesday urged France to speed up the promised weapons supplies to help his troops.
Abdullah has expressed his oil-rich state's support for Beirut against "terrorism" during a phone call with former President Michel Suleiman.
The king also "stressed his determination to speed up the implementation of support for the Lebanese army," according to Suleiman's office.
Suleiman finished his term in office in May, but consensus has yet to be reached on his successor.
The fighting in Arsal is the worst violence to hit the volatile border region since the 2011 outbreak of the armed uprising in Syria against President Bashar Assad.
Lebanon is hosting one million Syrian refugees, and despite an official policy of neutrality towards the conflict in its larger neighbor, it has regularly seen the fighting spill over the border.
The Arsal violence has left 16 soldiers dead and 85 wounded, while dozens of jihadists are said to have been killed, along with three civilians.
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Source: Agence France Presse, Naharnet
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