Tweeting from the frontline: The hashtagging soldiers of Lebanon

Tweeting from the frontline: The hashtagging soldiers of Lebanon
The Lebanese Army has launched its own Twitter account and it was met with a lot of support, many wishing it well in its struggle against Islamic State group.
Narrated
2 min read
The New Arab Staff

Moe Chreif

23 Jun, 2015
Lebanese Army supporters hold a sit in at Martyrs Square, Beirut, 2014 [Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty Images]
It's official: The Lebanese army now has its own Twitter account, @LebarmyOfficial, and it is trending among Twitter users.

The Army's first tweet contained the first four words (in Arabic) of the Lebanese National Anthem - All for country, for the glory, for the flag - along with a short video made by the army.



Another tweet that followed later was signed by Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Jean Kahwaji.


The launch of the official Twitter page for the Lebanese Army is a space for enhancing communication between the army and its people in the service of Lebanon. With sincere love and appreciation. General Jean Kahwaji.


The hashtag TweetOLebanon'sSoldiers trended highly on Twitter and prompted Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Gebran Bassil to tweet: "#TweetOLebanon'sSoldiers we are all with you. Let us tonight welcome and support our army. The official account @LebarmyOfficial."


Many in Lebanon would like to see the army take sole control of protecting the borders as the country struggles to keep Islamic State group (IS, formerly known as ISIS) fighters at bay.

Whillst the Shiite milita group Hezbullah has been engaged in battling IS group on the borders, its actions have proven controversial and many in Lebanon want the army to take over from them, the former being the state's legitimate military force.

This prompted Twitter users to support the deployment of the army on the borders.


#TweetOLebanon'sSoldiers in our hearts and on the borders

Another Twitter user called for unity in a photo that features all the main religious sects in Lebanon.


#TweetOLebanon'sSoldiers May God protect our army I am Druze the child of the leader of revolutionaries, I am Christian the child of Jesus who was crowned with thorns, I am Shia the child of the good Imams I am Sunni the child of the faithful companions I am Lebanese... against strife in short!!!

Tags

 
More in Opinion