Reports of Possible Assassination Attempts Are Real
Deputy Mustafa Alloush confirmed Monday reports of possible assassination attempts against some MPs, saying that all precautionary measures have been taken to ward off such threats.
"We have been directly informed by the army”s command that some Fatah al-Islam members might be preparing for an assassination operation during this period," against some deputies, Alloush told Voice of Lebanon Radio. He added that a number of MPs have been advised to take security measures for their own safety.
"Regardless of whether (such threats) are a real possibility or are merely a tactic of intimidation, our past experience has proven that anything is possible. Therefore, all precautionary measures have been taken," he said.
The comments came a week after Arabic media carried reports that Fatah al-Islam might target Lebanese MPs from the north.
Reacting to MP Walid Jumblat”s decision to withdraw his delegate from the Defense Strategy Committee, Alloush said: "No one knows what the motives are behind MP Walid Jumblat”s decision. But certainly any venture into the labyrinth of defense strategy is a waste of time."
He said that a national strategy for defense only became an issue because of Hizbullah owns arms "outside the state”s legitimacy." He added that "all of Hizbullah”s actions imply it will not abandon its own (defense) strategy" even if the group does not publicly acknowledge such intentions.
"(Such a stance) means that any venture into the labyrinth of defense strategy is considered a waste of time," Alloush said.