Lebanese army commander General Jean Qahwaji said on Wednesday that deploying the army along Lebanese-Syrian border needed some time.

Lebanese army commander General Jean Qahwaji said on Wednesday that deploying the army along Lebanese-Syrian border needed some time.

In remarks published by Lebanese daily as-Safir, Qahwaji said there was a need for a brigade of 2,000 soldiers to control the border.
“Implementing the plan to deploy forces along the northern and eastern borders with Syria needs some time as we will withdraw some military forces from certain areas to deploy them along the border,” Kahwaji said.

“A brigade, which is around 2,000 soldiers, is needed to control the border better. Army forces are already present in areas of tension, but what we want to do is strengthen these forces’ role.”
He said that the aim behind this plan was to control illegal crossings used by gunmen, noting that it was very difficult to control the entire border line.

“It is very hard to completely control the entire border. Not only in Lebanon but in all countries. Therefore assuming that it is possible to control every meter of the northern and eastern borders with Syria is wrong for objective reasons that are not related to the army’s capabilities and competency.”

Kahwaji also said that army’s deployment along the border was a response to the citizens’ call on the army to intervene to maintain security.

Asked about the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed and his companion Sheikh Mohammed Merheb at an army checkpoint in the Akkar town of al-Kweikhat on May 22, Qahwaji said: “We are keen to preserve the blood of innocent people in the first degree.”

He slammed those who launched a campaign on him by saying that the blood of Abdul Wahad is more precious that his.
The army commander described these sayings as absurd.
“I will only tell those who are agitated that everything happens at the right time,” Qahwaji added.