BEIRUT: The Lebanese Forces called Thursday a man who confessed to fabricating a story about an attack against him to be tried, the LF’s media office said in a statement.

“The LF hails the arrest of Ihab al-Azzi by the Army and calls for referring him to trial on charges of provoking strife in the country,” the statement said.

The statement added that Azzi should be severely punished so as to set an example for anyone who tries to harm civil peace between the Lebanese.

In a report by a local newspaper, Azzi claimed that he was assaulted because of his sect. He claimed to media outlets that a man cut off the fingers of his left hand with a sword Sunday after identifying him as a Shiite in the Beirut neighborhood of Tariq al-Jdideh.

The Lebanese Army issued a statement Wednesday saying Azzi confessed that he fabricated the news in order to receive free heath care from the Health Ministry.

The Army said he will be referred to the relevant judiciary.