Hariri: Syrian National Coalition complaint over Arsal raid should...

3^min

Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri criticized on Sunday the Syrian National Coalition's complaint filed to the United Nations Security Council over the Lebanese army's raid in the border town of Arsal, deeming it as a “misstep”, adding that it takes no notice to the bilateral ties between the two people.

In a statement, Hariri said that “the Syrian National Coalition is rightful in defending the rights of the refugees, noting however that the interests of the refugees and the Syrian revolt also require to demand the release of the Lebanese troops kidnapped by gunmen in August.”

Hariri also acknowledged that the Syrian refugees are witnessing oppression and displacement, adding that the Lebanese people have not stopped supporting the Syrian uprising.

“I feel regret when I see that some sides among the revolutionaries have chosen terrorism in order to damage the Lebanese-Syrian bilateral ties, kidnapped the soldiers, and threatened civil peace,” he explained.

“The photographs of the army's raid on the Syrian tented settlements in the border town of Arsal were unacceptable. They should not be repeated,” he added.

Hariri noted however that the photographs should not deny the reality that the Lebanese army is forced to act following the threats of the armed groups that are menacing the lives of the abducted soldiers and policemen,” he said.

“The gunmen are using the Syrian tented settlements to pressure the Lebanese state to achieve their goals,” Hariri noted.

The army arrested on Thursday suspected terrorists during raids it carried out on Syrian refugee tented settlements in Arsal and the northern city of Tripoli.

A source told al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Sunday that the Syrian National Coalition submitted a complaint to the United Nations over the “Lebanese army's violations of human rights of the refugees during the Arsal raid.”

Arsal has been the battlefront of the Lebanese army in its battle with jihadists since they crossed the border coming from Syria and overran the town in early August. The armed men from the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State kidnapped troops as they withdrew from the town to mountainous regions.

Several soldiers and policemen remain held in captivity while three have been executed so far.