Cabinet Orders Recruitment of 12,000 Army, Security Forces Members
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The cabinet hailed on Thursday the army for protecting Lebanon against the assault of jihadists from Syria in the northeastern town of Arsal, announcing that it has approved an increase in the number of army and security forces recruits.
Information Minister Ramzi Jreij announced that the cabinet approved the increase of recruits by 12,000.
Cabinet had convened under Prime Minister Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail.
The meeting was attended by Army chief General Jean Qahwaji, Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous, General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, head of State Security Gen. George Qaraa and Army Intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Edmond Fadel.
Qahwaji informed the cabinet of the situation on the ground in Arsal and the measures taken by the army and security forces to combat the gunmen and restore peace in the town.
“The gunmen have started to withdraw from Arsal and aid convoys began entering the town in the morning,” he told the ministers.
Clashes erupted between the army and Islamist gunmen over the weekend when the army arrested a prominent al-Nusra Front member.
Scores of soldiers were killed and 80 wounded in the battles.
Prime Minister Tammam Salam meanwhile informed cabinet of the efforts he carried out with the army to ensure the release of the detained soldiers and security forces held by the gunmen.
They were taken hostage over the weekend.
The premier also hailed Saudi Arabia's one billion dollar grant to the Lebanese army, saying it demonstrates King Abdullah's keenness on Lebanon.
Salam stressed the need to restore calm in Arsal after the end of the battles and address the social and humanitarian situation there.
“A serious and calm debate over the factors that led to the battle should be kicked off in order to avert similar unrest in the future,” he added.
In addition, cabinet agreed to task Education Minister Elias Bou Saab to follow up on the correction of official exams “to save the academic year and ensure that students enroll at universities.”
M.T.
S.D.B.
07 August 2014, 08:27
611
"Residents of al-Labweh prevented the convoy from reaching Arsal ..."
Labweh is a military barracks for the terrorist militia and it was at the express orders of its leadership the convoy was turned back.
07 August 2014, 20:45
22
The recruitment of 12,000 additional security forces is a very good step but is not enough to secure the country. We need to institute a national service and national reserve. That is the only way to ensure that the nation is strong and we are able to protect our democracy and freedom from the storms in the Middle East and remove any excuse for militias.
08 August 2014, 06:02
22
labweh shelled arsal and blocked the convoy coz they were told by their sectarian hateful mullahs, may they all burn in hell...
07 August 2014, 17:47
02
We should nuke these terrorists in Arsal
Or kick them out of the country as anyway they don't feel Lebanese
07 August 2014, 18:27
44
stupid decision to hire yet more drivers for wives of officers and increase the expenses of the state.
we need weapons. not people.
07 August 2014, 20:02
73
This is where you are wrong Roar. Lebanon has absolutely nothing to do with Gaza. It is closer to Australia than to Gaza.
Lebanese are not supressed except by HA's ally Nabih Berri who bloats our public sector with useless employees.
The only reason lebanon is "bombed every summer" is because of HA's adventures.
Our army, while not superstrong, is strong enough to cater to local challenges such as fath el islam or other Assad inventions.
Noone is living on his knees. We only have to be pragamatic and pick our battles. Our real battle is to build our economy. Not to kidnap israeli soldiers or pick a fight with al Nosra in eastern Ghouta.
You are living abroad and for you lebanon is a theater where you get excited for a particular party, where you have no vested interest, and can afford to be militaristic. even to the cost of destruction of the country.
07 August 2014, 20:05
31
the roar
I would be very interested to see that video
any chance??
thanks in advance
07 August 2014, 20:24
63
1- When palestinians battled Lebanon supported by America's kissinger, russia, the arabs, the whole world, they were fought by the real lebanese resitance (Called kataeb and LF). Who stopped them.
2- Lebanon is like a whore everybody comes in and out because your HA prevents borders to be closed. It stopped every M14 suggestion to control borders.
3- Most lebanese who leave are economic immigrants, because the HA creates so much instability that it is difficult to do a business in lebanon.
07 August 2014, 20:24
53
4- the HA milicia did not give Lebanon respectability. HA gave HA respectability, and in the process humiliated lebanon.
5- The HA milicia are not the defenders of lebanon. They are the defenders of the Iranian project. They are a subtroop of the pasdaran. A pawn. financed by Iran. Following iranian agenda. Fullstop. Nothing glorious about them...
6- I do not care for the HA members to go anywhere. Unfortunately Iran found fertile ground in the oppressed shias who are our copatriots. HA is like a drunken brother in a family who messes the family around and who we are obliged to bear.
07 August 2014, 21:07
24
coolmec; this guy has an inflated opinion of himself. World powers share their secrets with him and this is not the first time he makes such claims. Don't waste your time
07 August 2014, 23:34
20
southerner,
I am glad they left and sorry for the innocents who were victims of what happened.
The question I have is how is it possible for HA and the Syrian regime that they cleansed Qalamoun from these terrorists, yet here they are entering and leaving in the thousands (not dozens). What am I missing?
08 August 2014, 01:48
00
Lebanese never fought each other. Other powers fought in Lebanon using the Lebanese as foot soldiers...
08 August 2014, 02:26
01
back to the days of jamil el sayyed turning lebanon into another syrian military state. dictators love control.
08 August 2014, 02:58
12
dont need man, dont need weapons, need balls to fight hizbiran...
08 August 2014, 06:03
12
haboub : ghouta, qalamoun, aleppo, daraa...
actually they only won in homs and qusayr...
