BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army should be given a free hand to secure the release of captured soldiers and police officers, the deputy head of Hezbollah's executive council said Monday, accusing March 14 rivals of restraining military action against the takfiri militants holding them.
Speaking at a memorial ceremony for a Hezbollah member in south Lebanon, Nabil Qaouk said that ISIS's beheading of two soldiers was meant to stir sectarian strife in Lebanon.
“We are stronger and smarter than being driven to sectarian strife, and we are much more keen on preserving our national unity,” Qaouk said, in reference to unrest in the streets and blocked roads triggered by the news of the second beheading over the weekend.
“The kidnapping of Lebanese soldiers is an abduction of national dignity and a violation of sovereignty and freedoms, as well as a continuous aggression against the nation. The liberation of the soldiers should inevitably entail giving the Army a free hand [militarily],” Qaouk said.
Accusing March 14 parties of restraining military action against the militants, Qaouk warned that “as long as the Army has its hands tied down by politics, it cannot put pressure on the captors or act militarily to save the soldiers.”
“The position of March 14 should rise up to the level of the dangers of the current phase and the level of the Army’s sacrifices. Any leniency in dealing with the matter would facilitate the infiltration of takfiri terrorism into Lebanon,” Qaouk warned.
At least 29 security personnel, including soldiers and members of the Internal Security Forces, went missing in five days of fighting that pitted the Army against militants from ISIS and Syria’s Nusra Front in early August.
At least 22 are still believed to be in the hands of the militants, after five captives were freed were freed by Nusra and the two soldiers killed by ISIS. The captors have demanded the release of Islamist detainees in Roumieh Prison in exchange for the captives.
Qaouk urged rival parties to unify ranks and join hands in support of the Army.
“We should convey a strong message, that all of Lebanon stands as one in the face of takfiri terrorism,” Qaouk said.
The Hezbollah official also underscored the need to approve a defense strategy for fighting takfiri terrorism, which he said “is a decisive battle that should take precedence over all other internal matters.”
He argued that combining the strength of the Army, Hezbollah’s armed resistance and the people “makes Lebanon stronger and harder to be taken hostage by ISIS.”
“Israel and takfiri terrorism are allies having the same goal of weakening the resistance axis stretching from Iraq, to Syria and Lebanon. But Lebanon, which defeated Israel, is very well capable of defeating Israel’s tools [takfiri militants],” Qaouk added.
Hezbollah’s armed resistance is a main cause of the deep schism between the Future Movement-led March 14 coalition and pro- Hezbollah March 8 camp. The former has called for Hezbollah to disband its armed wing after Israel ended Lebanon’s occupation. However, March 8 has argued that Israel’s threat remains prominent and Hezbollah’s arms are still relevant in protecting Lebanon.
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