Geagea Calls Qahwaji, Hopes Tripoli Battle was Decisive in Eradicating Terrorism

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea hoped on Monday that the latest battles between the army and extremists in the northern city of Tripoli were decisive.

Geagea's press office said that the LF chief telephoned Army commander Maj. Gen. Jean Qahwaji stressing his “support for the military institution against terrorism and extremism.”

Geagea informed the military chief that “all the Lebanese, mainly the residents of Tripoli and the North, stand behind the army in its battle” with terrorists.

The LF chief “hoped that the Tripoli battle was decisive and final to root out terrorists taking refuge in the city's markets and streets.”

The capital of the North proved once again that it does not embrace terrorism, he said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat later contacted Qahwaji to voice his support to the army in its efforts to maintain stability and security throughout Lebanon.

Lebanese troops entered the Tripoli neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh on Monday where thousands of civilians had fled deadly fighting with militants who have battled the army across the northern city for three days.

The coastal city has seen repeated clashes between Sunni militants sympathetic to rebel fighters in neighboring Syria and Alawites loyal to the Damascus regime.

The army has also come under growing attack by Sunnis who accuse it of colluding with Hizbullah in its intervention in the Syrian conflict on the side of the regime.

G.K.

H.K.