Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn slammed calls for a new “Nahr al-Bared”, stressing those who call for this battle don’t belong to Lebanon and its unity and history.

Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn slammed calls for a new “Nahr al-Bared”, stressing those who call for this battle don’t belong to Lebanon and its unity and history.

In an interview to al-Manar TV, Ghosn found the calls for a second and a third “Nahr al-Bared” war as weird.
“Absolutely I find these calls weird. I don’t think that these words come from Lebanese who believe in Lebanon’s unity, history, future and army”, the minister told al-Manar Correspondent Abbas Fneish.

“These calls are rejected under any pretext”, Ghosn stressed urging those who call for the battle to “go and know what people want instead of slamming the national army”.

Ghosn remarks come after Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea called on the army to enter Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp.
Asked on whether such a scenario could lead to “another Nahr al-Bared War,” Geagea said: “should the situation demand a Nahr al-Bared-like war, so be it, and let the Lebanese state extend its authority over its entire territory.”

Meanwhile, the minister assured he was comfortable over the army solidarity, adding that authorities were working to control the border with Syria.

Ghosn noted that the Salafist cell which was discovered by the army proved what he had warned earlier against the existence of al-Qaeda in Lebanon.

When asked about the American aid to Lebanon, the minister had a rare smile, saying: “perhaps our last visit to Iran has prompted some countries to offer aid to Lebanon. We hope that countries who promised us of aid to do so”.