Military Intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Edmond Fadel will maintain his post after he was called from reserve to active military duty following the end of his extended term, a media report said on Sunday.
“Defense Minister Samir Moqbel has signed a decree summoning Fadel from reserve in line with the army chief's proposal,” LBCI television reported.
“He will remain in his post for another six months,” the TV network said.
“The decree has been sent to the Army Command and it will be officially announced tomorrow, Monday,” it added.
Fadel's tenure expired at midnight and it had been extended several times since 2013, LBCI noted.
On March 19, 2014, Moqbel signed a decree to extend the term of Fadel, which ended on March 20, for another six months.
The minister stressed back then that the extension of Fadel's tenure was in accordance with his jurisdiction.
Moqbel and Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun have been at loggerheads over the defense minister's extension of the terms of several senior military officials.
On August 6, Moqbel extended the terms of the army commander, the chief of staff and the head of the Higher Defense Council, a move that angered Aoun.
Moqbel took the decision to extend their terms by one year after the cabinet failed to resolve the controversial issue of the appointment of high-ranking military and security officials.
Aoun has been calling for making new appointments, deeming extension as illegal. He also wants Commando Regiment chief Chamel Roukoz, his son-in-law, to become the new army chief.
The dispute over appointments erupted amid a months-long presidential vacuum and a major disagreement between Aoun's bloc and its rivals over the cabinet's decision-taking mechanism in the absence of a president.
