Arsal Municipal Chief: Only Army, Not Hizbullah, Responsible for Security on Outskirts of Town

The municipal chief of the northeastern border town of Arsal Ali al-Hujeiri stressed the need for the army to seize control of security in the area and protect its citizens in light of recent fears of a possible attack by militants following battles in Syria's Qalamoun, reported the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday.

He told the daily: “The army alone is responsible for the situation on the outskirts of the area, not Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah or local clans.”

He made his remarks in the wake of the alleged formation of a brigade from majority-Shiite Baalbek to engage in battles against extremist threats on the outskirts of Arsal, said the daily.

The army had tried to contain the tensions caused by this recent development by deploying in the town.

It also mobilized patrols, amid the jubilation of residents who are wary of Hizbullah officials' recent statements over their town.

Hizbullah backed by Syrian forces has recently controlled strategic areas in Qalamoun that abuts Lebanon's eastern border, amid continuing clashes in the region.

Hizbullah cites fear of militants from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front sweeping through Lebanese Shiite and Christian border villages as one of the main reasons for its 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.

Nasrallah had last week hinted that his group would try and eliminate the militants of the IS and al-Nusra from Arsal's outskirts if the Lebanese state failed to do so.

Citing remarks by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq who said that Arsal is “occupied” by militant groups, Nasrallah called on the Lebanese state to protect the town and “regain” it from their hands.

“The vast majority in Arsal are feeling the heavy burden of the militant groups and we are ready to stand by Arsal's people, but the state must shoulder its responsibility,” Nasrallah added.

He vowed, however, that “our people in Baalbek and Hermel” will not tolerate “the presence of a single terrorist in the outskirts of Arsal and the Bekaa.”

M.T.