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Lebanese army ready to defend against invasion-TV | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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DUBAI,(Reuters) – Lebanon’s army is ready to defend the country against any land invasion by Israel, Lebanon’s defence minister told Al Arabiya television on Friday.

Asked if the army would fight alongside Hezbollah against any land incursion by Israel, Defence Minister Elias al-Murr said, “Our constitutional duty is to defend Lebanon as a Lebanese army. This is our role.”

“Any Lebanese citizens, Christians or Muslims, who want to defend their land are welcomed … Defending one’s land can be done in several ways, either helping the army with food or water, giving psychological or political support. Because this is a war opened on all fronts.

“But for the resistance (Hezbollah) to enter the army and fight alongside the army this is not an option, because the army can’t fight like the resistance, nor can the resistance fight like the army,” he said.