Lebanon: Army told to be ready for war with Israel after defeating ISIS and al-Qaeda
The commander of Lebanon’s armed forces instructed his troops, which are celebrating recent victories against jihadi groups on the country’s restive eastern border with Syria, to be fully ready to deal with a potential attack from Israel.
On the eve of the country’s 74th anniversary of independence from France, the Lebanese military commander, Joseph Aoun, commended soldiers for successfully expelling the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Al-Qaeda affiliate formerly known as Nusra Front, from the outskirts of eastern towns such as Arsal, Ras Baalbek and Hermel this summer.
He warned, however, that current “exceptional political circumstances” required personnel to “maintain the utmost awareness and vigilance and to take measures to maintain stability,” especially looking south, where another foe stands at the ready.