Hizbullah Seizes 'Strategic' Posts in Arsal Outskirts as Moqbel Downplays Reports
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Hizbullah made advances Wednesday against the militants of the Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front in the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal, seizing several strategic points, Hizbullah-affiliated al-Manar TV reported.
Hizbullah fighters “seized control of the strategic al-Shurouq hills that overlook al-Rahweh area, Wadi al-Kheil and Wadi Atnin, where al-Nusra's leaders are present, including Abou Malek al-Talli, the emir of al-Nusra in (Syria's) Qalamoun,” al-Manar said.
“The entire plain of al-Rahweh is now in the line of fire of the resistance fighters,” the TV network added.
It said al-Nusra's militants “set their tents ablaze and fled the area en masse” after Hizbullah's fighters advanced towards al-Rahweh.
The party "is encircling the caves and the locations where the armed men of al-Nusra are," al-Manar reported, broadcasting footage of fighters storming a hill and saying it was an assault against jihadists.
A Lebanese security source told AFP that "the clashes are happening for the first time around Arsal," but could not confirm whether Hizbullah had advanced.
The Lebanese army declined to comment on Hizbullah's operations.
"We do not have any comment on this topic. The army protects Arsal and the areas (close to Syria) and has isolated them from where the jihadists are," an army spokesman told AFP.
"We are doing our duty."
Last week, the army intensified its patrols in Arsal "to prevent any attack on the area," the spokesman said.
In the morning, Hizbullah seized the heights of Marj al-Hamra and Shmeis al-Hamra north of the outskirts of the border town of Nahle, according to al-Manar.
The channel said several militants were killed and injured in the battles there.
Hizbullah fighters also controlled the heights of Mrad Ghazi and Harf Wadi al-Hawa on the outskirts of Arsal and advanced toward the strategic Jabal al-Zaroub south of Wadi al-Khayl.
Defense Minister Samir Moqbel denied the media reports in the morning, saying he was informed by the army intelligence that “reports of clashes in Arsal's outskirts are baseless.”
“Entering Arsal is costly and it might leave hundreds dead. The army is patrolling the town after it insulated it from its outskirts,” Moqbel added.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has recently warned that “our people in Baalbek and Hermel” will not tolerate “the presence of a single terrorist in the outskirts of Arsal and the Bekaa,” calling on the state to act against the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front militants who are entrenched in Arsal's peripheries.
Nasrallah's statement drew criticism from al-Mustaqbal movement, which warned against any Hizbullah military action in Arsal.
Sectarian tensions also surged in northern Bekaa after a number of Baalbek and Hermel tribes announced the formation of what they called al-Qalaa Brigade and said they stood ready to intervene militarily in Arsal's outskirts if Hizbullah gives them the greenlight.
Last week, al-Nusra Front chief Abu Mohamed al-Jolani vowed in a televised interview to defeat Hizbullah in al-Qalamoun.
Hizbullah has significantly bolstered the Bashar Assad regime in the mountainous border region between Syria and Lebanon.
In the past weeks, Hizbullah said it has secured around a third of the Qalamoun region.
The area of roughly 1,000 square kilometers is a landscape of imposing hillsides riddled with caves, and open valleys full of scrub and wildflowers.
The fate of Qalamoun is particularly important for Hizbullah, which has long defended its intervention in Syria alongside Assad's troops as key to the security of Lebanon.
Hizbullah cites that fear of militants from the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front sweeping through Shiite and Christian villages in the Bekaa as one of the main reasons for its involvement in Syria.
The IS and al-Nusra had infiltrated Lebanon in the past. Last August, they briefly overran Arsal, taking with them several soldiers and policemen hostage of whom four have been executed.
Y.R./H.K.
03 June 2015, 11:57
1212
Ofcourse the Resistance advances, the armys hands are tied together. Those outskirts are the takfiris last foothold between Lebanon and Syria, they will do all they can to keep it, even using Rifi & Hariri to protect them. That has failed, the Resistance does not care about those corrupted takfiri lovers in March 14.
03 June 2015, 12:33
109
(1). Mystic, you said and I quote, "Of course the Resistance advances, the armys hands are tied together", end of quote. My brother, the knack about you and those of your side is that you uncannily tend to distort facts. Look bro, I hate, despise and abhor every single Takfiri, every single one of them, and I bless anyone who causes them reverses. But I also oppose strenuously Hezbollah's role in Syria too, thus without any mistake or fake veils cast on facts as you often do, Hezbollah causes the problems, the Lebanese state has to clean up your mess. Now about them hands being tied, truth is that it's Hezbollah's hands that are tied up, seriously tied up.
03 June 2015, 12:34
107
(2). Mystic. I can only be joyed to know that HA has pushed the evils further, but the army is not tied up as you stated, the army is able to enjoy more and more options with every passing day, and with it up goes the confidence of the people of its army. The same can't be said of Hezbollah these days, sadly. Please ya akhi, get to grips with facts and try best as you can to move away from the mechanism of party propaganda, it's become too humorist to believe anymore and gone long in the tooth now, and way too stale.
03 June 2015, 12:37
1012
Is Arsal now Syria phoenix? If you really hated the takfiris and wished them gone, then you would praise the Resistance. But ofcourse not, Geagea kissed the Saudis hands and so will you too. You are well known to sell the country in favor of dollars, just like in the civil war.
03 June 2015, 12:53
96
Excellent points Phoenix, one another related note: what do you say to the prpaganda that the army " is not able " and the army weapons deal has stopped or cancelled etc., all by the same orchestra!
03 June 2015, 12:55
96
Mystic, please move away from party propaganda. Never let your tongue overtake your eyes, never. Read well, I said I am against HA's involvement in Syria, do you read well? I also said that I bless anyone who causes reverses to the Takfiris. Take this wisdom from a well-meaning Lebanese sibling. When driving at night and the oncoming driver hits you with high lights, just give him your dipped lights, so that at least one sees rather than two go blinded. I will give you my dipped lights and pray for you that you calm down. The day will come when Syria's war will end, your Hezbollah will return back home, now whether in peace or in pieces I don't know, but your militia will return and you will find that real people are still around running this country. Then about Geagea's Saudi Dollars, I am not his PR manager, just go and ask him, but expect of him to ask you the same regarding Sayed Hassan's finances and by default, HA's.
03 June 2015, 13:05
810
No phoenix, if you wanted me to watch my language, then you shouldn't have been the two faced person that you are today. You do not deserve the same respect you once had from me, now I will communicate with you, the same way as I do to all the others in M14.
I know you would very much want the power to stop the Resistance, but you can't Phoenix, I do not care about your false nationalism that are happy to sell the country to it's enemies.
Secondly, it's no secret that the Resistance enjoys support from Iran, I'm not ashamed about kissing the hands of Ayatollah sayed Khamanei, because he is the moallem in my religion.
What ties does Geagea have to the Saudis and Israelis? Does he have religious ties or he just likes their money too much?
03 June 2015, 13:13
85
@freedomarch, that is why I keep telling Mystic about him moving away from this rusting propaganda machine, the army will prevail, Inshallah. @makhaleh, you're perfectly right, but I am sure if the leadership diifuses the tension like did Geagea and Aoun yesterday, then people will calm down. Mystic, don't worry about how you feel of me, I will keep following my principles that to gain respect, we should do it for ourselves. Now if you disagree with my points I can understand you, but unlike me, I do not lose my pedals, you my dear brother, you've long lost your footing, let alone your pedals. If every time you want to be judge, lawyer, jury and public, then your courtrooms will be attended only by Kangaroos. Then read Animal Farm for some inspiration, it could help.
03 June 2015, 13:16
94
Mystic ya akhi, this is a link for you to download a copy of the book Animal Farm by George Orwell. Please read it, take your time before drawing any conclusion. http://msxnet.org/orwell/print/animal_farm.pdf
03 June 2015, 13:27
75
@al.finique, you're right, even his old set IP's haven't changed either, Lol, so childish and amateurish.
03 June 2015, 14:37
53
Phoenix, the Lebanese Forces fell along time ago. You always wish the Resistance falled but everytime, facts contradicts your hopes.
The Resistance is now doing what the Lebanese army aren't allowed to do. No political faction can keep the resistance back. They tried to let the state take care of it with no results.
03 June 2015, 13:06
105
Well said phoenix....theres too much hatred going on and this is the reason whyvwe lebanese can never agree on anything...like highschool children we follow gossips never really stop and think but what if...mystic to control yourself just breathe before you reply...we all love lebanon and we all have a duty to protect it from the takfiris
03 June 2015, 12:00
812
Hezbollahs mouthpiece Al manar said? Okay Annahar, how does it feel to see your beloved "Syrian opposition" turn into ISIS and Nusra terrorists? You are their mouth piece.
03 June 2015, 12:43
37
@muta saddy
No need for this foul and insulting language dude.
It would be nicer to debate in a civilized and respectful manner
03 June 2015, 12:55
104
My stic, you are mixing deliberately between takfiris, Isis etc, and KSA, that is fighting them.
03 June 2015, 15:44
24
Mystic, inta habibi, inta khaye, bass inta ma baddak tefham. The LF did not fall as you claim, the LF got betrayed, but the LF twice promised to return its weapons to the state because it believes in the state. Hezbollah on the contrary doesn't believe in the state, doesn't even acknowledge that it exists, HA goes to war wherever it wants and whenever it wants without even consulting the state. HA wants to be the state but will never be the state. The army does have some political constraints, true and I am not denying it either, but the truth is that HA screws up and the state has to mop up its messes. Finally, the RESISTANCE, that my good brother is long gone and dead, we've now got a mercenary militia, end of story.
03 June 2015, 16:53
30
Phoenix, I don't understand honestly about Lebanese forces, how they can support somebody like the Wahabis of Saudi Arabia, whilst being Christians themselves, knowing what is happening to Christians in the region.
This does puzzle me alot, Geagea is manipulating you with Saudi dollars.
03 June 2015, 16:11
13
Wou ba3den ya Mystic, the LF may not be on the streets as you may expect, but the LF is still around. In 2008 when Hezbollah invaded West Beirut and Sayed Hassan tried to intimidate Geagea that Hezbollah will enter Ein El Remaneh, did you forget what geagea told him then? And then, you tell my, why did Hezbollah not invade, I mean, just Ein El Remaneh ya habibi? ma3leysh khayi, you're free to say what you wish, but reality from fiction cannot be more different. But for you to know our capabilities, haven't you seen how we can mobilize when called upon? You do hate us the LF, but messing with us is a very different matter, Sayed Hassan knows that well.
03 June 2015, 16:51
30
Yeah sure phoenix, the Lebanese Forces are so strong, that is why they have to complain about us running the country all the time. All I remember is Geagea being the coward that he is, he left Mostaqbal to fight for themselves. While all people in Ashrafieh kept indoors. So why pick up a broken sword Phoenix? You are finished, I understand you people feel your last hope is the LAF. Then for God sake stop holding them down, by supporting those Saudis and takfiris.
03 June 2015, 12:12
115
Because he likes to debate the obvious with a username that he created himself
03 June 2015, 13:01
116
Resistance? Which resistance? The one which destroyed National Unity and the living together?
03 June 2015, 13:14
105
Miss Tic
You are Toc-Toc when you attack everybody but forget to list Iran...
03 June 2015, 16:13
23
I am mighty glad to notice that the Mod Team of Naharnet is being prompt today. This is what moderating a forum is all about because if not, then the forum has no value, especially when jesters with dirty tongues and even dirtier attitudes invade the space.
03 June 2015, 16:30
00
Naharnet: Please include maps, instead of stock landscape photos, in your articles when discussing battlefields. It would help the readers who do not have detailed knowledge of the geographies. Thank you.
03 June 2015, 17:02
02
@Southern E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T. Still laughing since your last comment. Thank you
03 June 2015, 21:15
03
the army is preventing hezbollah from entering arsal and taking control of it... if hezbis ever do so it will be civil war in Lebanon and chaos would benefit both hezbis and bashar...
what better to demonize a lebanese village opposed to the hegemony of hezbollah to better manipulate their poor sheep?
