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.
Security sources told
As-Safir Daily that the
last Syrian raid on the Lebanese territories targeted a disputed area on the
Lebanese border.
Following the stance voiced by President Michel
Sleiman who announced that Syrian air strikes on the Lebanese territories constitute
“an unacceptable violation of Lebanon's sovereignty”, well-informed sources raised
questions about the reasons behind the President’s involvement in the political
wrangling with Damascus.
In parallel, the same sources wondered why
President Sleiman is turning a blind eye to the Israeli escalating violations
that were exacerbated during the last few days, while he rushed to condemn the
Syrian bombardment.
The British ambassador to Lebanon Tom
Fletcher stressed on the importance of enhancing cooperation between the
British and Lebanese Army.
In this context, Fletcher told
An-Nahar Newspaper
that “the LAF is the front line defense strategy” for Lebanon’s stability, and
praised the rolling trainings undertaken by the Army.
In this regard, Fletcher said that the
checkpoints set up by the Army are an integral part of its program in order to
defend the borders, calling on Syria to relinquish its bad habits by honoring
Lebanon’s unity and sovereignty.
The British ambassador to Lebanon also said
that the self-dissociation policy is paramount for Lebanon, adding that the
rolling involvement of the Lebanese parties in the Syrian crisis will cause
greater challenges.
LAF Commander General Jean Kahwaji told
al-Hayat
Daily that the Army units deployed in all the Lebanese territories are adamant
on foiling any attempt against the citizens’ security and stability.
In this regard, Kahwaji stressed that the
Lebanese Armed Forces General Command will not backtrack on its decision to
arrest all the involved in both attacks against the four clerics Mazen Hariri, Ahmad
Fakhran, Omar Imami and Ibrahim Abdul Latif, and added that the LAF arrested so
far the key members involved in the attacks.
On another note, Kahwaji highlighted the
importance of the efforts exerted by the Army to protect the borders and to prevent
all kinds of smuggling, and called on all parties to cooperate with the LAF in
order to alleviate the security burdens.
Allama Sayyed Ali Fadlallah told
An-Nahar
Newspaper that all Muslim clerics should roll back strife within the confines
of a well-devised plan, noting that the wide-spread fear over a potential
strife is due to the increasing sectarian wrangling which results from media
outlets, political rhetoric as well as the Syrian crisis.
In this context, Fadlallah said that the
Syrian crisis entailed a greater schism among Muslims, and urged the
Lebanese parties to steer clear of the Syrian crisis since it will spark
tension between Lebanon and the Arab world.
In addition, Fadlallah stressed on the dire repercussions
that will take a toll on all the Lebanese parties due to the involvement in Syria’s
incidents, and called on everyone to "break the vicious cycle".