Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel said Friday (September 30th) he will sign decisions to extend the term of Army Commander Jean Kahwaji and Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman, Lebanon's Naharnet reported.
"We will not accept vacuum in the military institution," Moqbel said, after the cabinet failed to convene Thursday, announcing he would extend both terms.
In August 2015, Moqbel postponed the retirement of Kahwaji, Salman and Higher Defence Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir, extending their terms by one year, after the political forces failed to reach an agreement on security and military appointments.
In August 2016, he issued a decision postponing Kheir's retirement until August 2017.
"Security threats stare at us from all sides," Moqbel said. "I cannot find any institution but the military one that has stayed away from political disputes that target the nation and citizen."
"No borders can be protected and no dignities can be preserved if it was not for the military institution. We hereby call on everyone, including the people and media outlets, to keep the military institution away from political enigmas," he added.
