Kahwagi in Washington as anti-ISIS coalition meets

BEIRUT: Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi took part Tuesday in a gathering in Washington of military leaders from the anti-ISIS coalition as the military repelled an infiltration attempt by gunmen in the town of Arsal.

Speaking to The Daily Star, an Army source said Lebanon was not involved with any decisions made during the meeting.

“We are attending as a country that receives military aid and training from the United States and because our Army is confronting terrorism on Lebanese territories,” the source said, requesting to remain anonymous.

“We have nothing to do with the decisions made during the meeting,” he said.

The gathering aims at hammering out a strategy to counter ISIS, which is still advancing in Syria and Iraq despite weeks of airstrikes launched by the coalition.

Attending the meeting were representatives from over 20 countries

The source said that Kahwagi, who has been in Washington since the weekend, had traveled to the U.S. on Dempsey’s invitation. “The aim of the visit is to discuss the pressing needs of the Lebanese Army and seek additional military assistance from the United States,” the source explained. The Lebanese Army has been receiving shipments of arms from the U.S. over the past weeks

Overstretched and underequipped, the Lebanese Army is confronting ISIS and the Nusra Front, which have thousands of fighters on Lebanon’s borders with Syria.

The groups briefly took over the border town of Arsal and are still holding at least 21 serviceman during fierce battles in August.

Meanwhile, the National News Agency reported Tuesday that the Army had opened fire at gunmen in Wadi al-Raayan on the outskirts of Arsal after they tried to infiltrate one of its posts.