Lebanese army determined to eliminate terrorism

Lebanese army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stressed Wednesday that the army is "determined to fight terrorism until it is eliminated."

The army will exhaust all possible ways to free those soldiers kidnapped by jihadist groups, the National News Agency quoted Qahwaji as saying.

"We renew today what we had already confirmed before, our determination to continue combating terrorism with power and firmness until we eliminate it from its roots," he added.

In August, the military forces battled extremist groups from al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) in and around the Bekaa border town of Arsal, and engaged in a five-day combat that resulted in the killing of 16 civilians and 20 soldiers.

Before the gunmen withdrew back to Syria, they kidnapped at least 30 soldiers and police officers. So far, seven were released while three soldiers were executed by al-Nusra and one beheaded by the IS.

The army also fought with Islamist militants in the northern port city of Tripoli's old souks and the nearby northern regions of Bhannine and al-Mhammara.

The government troops managed to restore law and order to the largest city in the north that has seen over the past few years more than 20 rounds of clashes between the Sunni neighborhood of Bab el-Tebbaneh and the mostly-Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen.

Qahwaji noted the army has foiled the scheme of the terrorists, who planned to establish an obscurantist emirate.

He stressed the kidnapped servicemen remain the country's priority, saying that "we will not spare an effort or a way in order to liberate them and bring them back."

The general also said that foreign aid, especially the Saudi donation, will have a huge impact on enhancing the ability of the army to win the battle against terrorism.

The oil-rich Gulf kingdom donated three billion U.S. dollars to the Lebanese army to buy advanced weaponry from France. The agreements have been finalized and the first shipment is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2015.

The Saudis also provided the Lebanese security forces with another donation of one billion dollars, and charged former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in overseeing its execution.

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