Arsal Municipal Chief Fears Fate of Town, Warns of Dragging it into Battle

Arsal municipal chief Ali al-Hujairi expressed concern Saturday over attempts by Hizbullah and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to drag the northeastern border town into battle.

“They are trying to pull Arsal into a dark tunnel of blood and fire,” Hujairi said in comments published in the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper.

He hailed the Lebanese army for preventing the mercenaries from meddling with the town's security and stability.

The municipal chief accused a number of Hizbullah affiliates of “placing the explosive-rigged car in Arsal,” revealing that the army is aware of their names and political ties.

Explosive experts dismantled Thursday a car rigged with 35 kilograms of explosives in the town.

Hujairi hailed Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and Mustaqbal Movement chief Saad Hariri, stressing they assured him that “tampering with the security and fate of the town will not be allowed.”

The official called on Hizbullah to avert a crisis in Arsal and the region as the repercussions of its fall will impact everyone, stressing that the town supports the army and its decisions.

Hizbullah backed by Syrian forces controlled strategic areas in Qalamoun that abuts Lebanon's eastern border as fighting rages in the region.

Hizbullah cites that fear of militants (from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front) sweeping through Shiite and Christian villages in diverse Lebanon as one of the main reasons for their involvement in Syria.

Some observers however fear the Qalamoun offensive could prompt Islamist militants to launch attacks in Shiite areas of Lebanon itself, including Beirut's southern suburbs.

The IS and Nusra Front have infiltrated Lebanon in the past, and last August briefly overran Arsal, taking with them several soldiers and policemen hostage. Four of whom have been executed.

However, a source close to the March 8 alliance stressed that Hizbullah “will not open Arsal Battle but will not remain mum over the state's failure to control border towns and their outskirts.”

The source, who refused to reveal his name, said that militants are entering Arsal at all times to buy diesel, food, arms and recruit gunmen.

“Most of the booby-trapped cars that entered Lebanon passed through Arsal and armed men are using some Syrian refugees encampments to assault the army and Lebanon.”

H.K.

D.A.