Lebanese express solidarity with national army in face of unfair campaign against it launched by Future party

Once again, the Lebanese army, the only remaining guarantee of all Lebanese, seems to be targeted by unjust campaigns…

That’s it. The Future party, which is launching campaigns one after another since its famous fall, chose to target the army and to ignore the high sacrifices the military has paid for the sake of the country.

Lebanese decided to respond to the unfair campaign.

Saturday witnessed the first movement in this context. Tens of youth organized a protest in solidarity with the army, at Al-Mathaf region. In a statement released at the end of the march, and read out by activist Maher Khatib, the organizers declared that this meeting would not be the last one, and stressed that the Lebanese national army was the only guarantee to achieve stability and civil peace. They rejected the campaign launched by some lawmakers and political movements against the Lebanese national army and its commander General Jean Qahwaji.

Future party MP Khaled Daher attacked the army more than once in the few last days, and refused to apologize. He claimed that army soldiers were biased and that they stand at the side of a specific political bloc.

The blue MP’s unfair campaign against the army is, however, justified. The army intelligence has recently arrested Daher’s companion for taking part in Akkar’s massacre, which led to the martyrdom of Sheikh Bassam Mahmoud during an Iftar banquet.

Meanwhile, religious leader continued to back the army.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi described the Lebanese army as Lebanon’s backbone, and said the country has no pride or dignity without a strong army. In remarks at Beirut airport before travelling to Paris on an official visit, Rahi said: “The army is Lebanon’s backbone; it is Lebanese pride and honor.”

“It is not worth responding” to every individual who attacks the army, he said, adding that the point of view of one person does not represent the entire Lebanese. No one can attack the sanctity of the army, the presidency, the government, parliament and state institutions, al-Rahi told reporters. “We appreciate the role of the state and its institutions,” he said.