The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the
Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving
English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers
across the Arab world.
Army Commander Jean Kahwaji told
As Safir Daily that the Lebanese Army demands the surrender of the suspects who ambushed Lebanese troops in Arsal, stressing that any offending arm stretched out against the LAF will be cut off.
Kahwaji added that the assaulters will be pursued and prosecuted despite their affiliations, emphasizing that sectarian accusations are not tolerated in this case.
Military sources reported to
As Safir Daily that a sheikh is among the arrested suspects involved in the Arsal incident. He is accused of inciting the attack against the army patrol and participating in the ambush against the Lebanese troops who were on a mission to arrest suspect Khaled Hmeid.
The sources added that the LAF will deal with the violators with firmness, stressing that the army's decision is definitive.
According to the sources, the LAF is differentiating between Arsal residents who in majority support the Lebanese Army and the militant groups who grew strong after the beginning of the Syrian crisis.
The sources also confirmed that this is the 5th assault of its kind against the LAF in the Arsal area.
Al Akhbar Daily published on Monday that the notorious Qaeda affiliated militant group “Jebhat al-Nusra” who is fighting regime troops in Syria, will be launching a military wing in Ain El-Helwe Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon.
According to the Daily, the wing will include Islamists belonging to “Kataeb Abdallah Azzam,” “Fateh al-Islam”, “Jund al-Sham”, and a number of Jihadists.
The newspaper added that “Jebhat al-Nusra” is now controlling 50% of Ain El-Helwe, stressing that the militants are conducting public military exercises inside the camp during the day.
In an interview with
As Safir Daily, Speaker Nabih Berri said that the Arsal ambush is a crime against the Lebanese state, stressing that what happened in the border town is intolerable.
Berri stressed that the Lebanese Armed Forces don’t need permission to conduct missions on Lebanese territories.
Al Joumhouria Daily published on Monday that the Lebanese Army will be taking further security measures in the town of Arsal and neighboring areas to arrest the assaulters who attacked an army patrol on Friday.
According to the daily, sources reported overnight that 2 trucks carrying weapons were seized in Arsal by the LAF.
In this context, the father of late Major Pierre Bachaalany who was killed in the Arsal ambush told the newspaper that the officials have promised him that the assaulters will be prosecuted and therefore no escalatory measures were taken.