A new intelligence director of the Lebanese army

Nazir Rida wrote in Asharq Al-Awsat that the Military Council of the Lebanese Army Command yesterday appointed Brigadier General Tony Kahwagi as Director of Intelligence. To succeed Brigadier General Tony Mansour, who is heading into retirement next month, and sent his decision to the Minister of Defense in the interim government, Zeina Aker, for signature.

Brigadier General Mansour will retire on December 8. Before the end of his term, a media controversy arose about the extension for him, and that the extension ran into political obstacles, including Hezbollah. This was denied by relevant sources who told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the decision is of a military, technical and apolitical nature”, giving the news about the controversy that arose in the framework of Try to exploit the issue politically. “
The sources indicated that “the extension or appointment of a new director for the Intelligence Directorate of the Lebanese Army were two options on the table”, explaining that “the opinion that supported the expansion of Brigadier General Mansour stems from the fact that the current situation and the existing crisis does not allow changes, while the view that the need to appoint a director What is new for the intelligence services is based on the principle that the military institution is continuity and that Brigadier General Kahwaji is competent and ethical “. In response, the Commander of the Lebanese Army, General Joseph Aoun, requested the opinion of the President of the Republic, Michel Aoun (who is considered by law to be the supreme commander of the Armed Forces), and agreed to appoint Brigadier General Kahwagi in the place. The sources noted that “there was no disagreement or divergence of opinions. What circulated was premature speculation and analysis. “

According to the constitution, this military decision does not need the approval of the Council of Ministers. Rather, the five-member military council takes it and refers it to the Defense Minister for signature, and it becomes effective.
Sources accompanying Brigadier General Kahwaji’s appointment process said that it is “the choice of the army commander to be firmly in this position,” and noted that there is “complete harmony between the army leadership and the Intelligence Directorate, and this matter will certainly continue. ” Brigadier General Kahwagi is a graduate of the class of 1994 and has held the chairmanship of the “technical branch” in the Intelligence Directorate since 2005, and is the branch responsible for wiretapping and technical monitoring, and is considered a of the most important branches of management. Arefouh says he is “a son of the military establishment and enjoys an institutional and apolitical personality.” The military law obliges to carry out modifications in some locations of the Intelligence Directorate, in accordance with the military hierarchy, since there are officers and deans who have military seniority, which obliges the leadership to make them available until new ones are found. locations for them. In the Intelligence Directorate, officers are appointed of lower rank and seniority than Brigadier General Kahwagi.