WASHINGTON
The U.S. lauded Lebanon’s military on Monday following violent clashes in the country’s second largest city.
At least 11 Lebanese soldiers were killed in weekend clashes with Islamist militants in the northern city of Tripoli and nearby areas Sunday. No tally was available for the number of Sunni militants killed in the clashes.
“The United States commends the bravery of the personnel of the Lebanese armed forces who are working to keep Tripoli and Akkar safe for all residents,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. “ We condemn those who seek to sow chaos in Lebanon and are confident that the Lebanese people will persevere if they stand united in the face of this threat.”
Sunday’s clashes were the deadliest in months between the Lebanese army and Sunni militants. The army has been the target of repeated attacks since September, particularly in the north of the country and in the area adjacent to the border with Syria.
In August, Syria-based militant groups overran the eastern Lebanese border town of Arsal, leaving dozens dead and at least 28 soldiers in the hands of ISIL and the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
The two militant groups, fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government, demand the withdrawal from Syria of fighters from Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah group who for the past two years have fought alongside Assad's forces.
The move has angered some Sunnis, prompting some to join various rebel groups, including the Nusra Front and ISIL.
Psaki said that the U.S. is “very confident” in the abilities of the army and state security institutions, adding they “alone have the legitimate role of defending Lebanon under the direction of the government.”
Relations between Lebanon’s religious groups have soured as Syria’s civil war continues unabated. Lebanon’s Sunnis generally support Syrian rebels seeking to oust Assad, while Shiites and some religious minorities staunchly defend his government.
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