Finally, Lebanon's army has a Commander in the person of Brigadier General Jean Kahwaji. The position has been vacant since General Suleiman was elected as a consensus President in May. NOW Lebanon reports:
Shortly before the session convened, Defense Minister Elias al-Murr said General Kahwaji, who was commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces' 12th brigade, met the requirements of military competence and the capacity to lead. Murr also said the army commander should be detached from politics and sectarian divisions, and should treat all citizens and groups fairly and called for those responsible for Thursday's downing of a military helicopter to be brought to justice.
AFP reported that Hezbollah had handed over to military police the culprit behind the downing of a military helicopter that killed an army officer, a judicial source said on Friday.
“Hezbollah has handed over the person who fired at the helicopter to military police,” the source told AFP. “The person behind the attack is in the hands of military officials who are investigating the incident.”
The identity of the person handed over has not been revealed, according to AFP.
“The area where this distressing incident took place is, as everybody knows, under the control of the Resistance (Hezbollah),” said former Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss, who is considered close to the Hezbollah-led opposition.
“Hezbollah must explain and not justify what happened, because the death of a brilliant officer cannot be justified whatever the circumstances of the incident,” Hoss said in a statement.
