Arsal Residents Vow to Defend Town Till Last Breath
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Municipal chief of Arsal Ali al-Hujeiri stressed Thursday that the residents of the northeastern border town will defend it until the last day.
“The residents of Arsal will defend it from any harm by Hizbullah or the gunmen,” Hujeiri told As Safir newspaper.
He pointed out that the residents are not supporting any side and observing the battles.
“Entering Arsal is forbidden,” Hujeiri stressed.
His comments come in light of a statement issued by al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front overnight Thursday.
The group announced in a statement the formation of a new brigade “al-Farouq Omar Brigade in Arsal.”
The statement accused Hizbullah of “sectarian mobilization and arming Shiite tribes,” revealing that the aim of the newly formed brigade is to fend off the party's fighters.
However, Hujeiri downplayed the announcement, describing it as “propaganda.”
On Wednesday, Hizbullah, fighting in Syria to support the ruling regime, said it was tightening the noose around the last remaining jihadist pockets along the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Hujeiri also expressed concern in remarks to the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat over the clashes on the outskirts of the town.
He pointed out that Arsal cannot be separated from its outskirts.
Hizbullah's official media reported "violent clashes" with al-Nusra near Arsal.
Al-Nusra and the Islamic State group briefly overran Arsal last August, and are still holding 25 soldiers and policemen hostage.
Last week, the army intensified its patrols in Arsal "to prevent any attack on the area.”
Hizbullah, which has said it wants to protect Lebanon "from the jihadist menace", has been fighting in Syria on behalf of President Bashar Assad's regime for more than two years.
H.K.
G.K.
04 June 2015, 10:39
68
That's what they said in Qusayr and Yabroud too. The more takfiris for the slaughter the better, hopefully they all collect in that place.
04 June 2015, 14:09
87
You mean the more sunnis the shia takfiri can kill the closer to heaven the shia believe they will get
04 June 2015, 14:31
92
Blablabla, this is one of those times when I can agree with you, Hujeiri should indeed been arrested since last year, and the army too should have entered this rat infested hole. I can see that you've made some great strides in your posts, should you continue like this, I would expect with the greatest pleasure to debate you on many issues, even if we may disagree much of the time, ... especially now that you've desisted from the loathed personality attacks. My tap on your back, jolly good work.
04 June 2015, 18:18
73
hezbollah plans is to take this sunni village which is a thorn to them... then remove the sunnis like they did in the lebanese villages in syria! the army is preventing them to enter so far...
Arsal stands between hezbi controlled areas and does not obey hezbis so they have to remove it to safeguard a route between bashar and the Bekaa... that is all arsal is about.
04 June 2015, 18:21
72
the lebanese army is IN arsal... protecting it from hezbollah... LOL you d better update your infos and stop believing your propaganda!
"Last week, the army intensified its patrols in Arsal "to prevent any attack on the area.”
04 June 2015, 20:43
63
The cabinet tasked the military “with taking all necessary measures to deploy inside Arsal and protect it from attacks and the dangers of armed men,”
the army is protecting it from both isis and hezbollah that is the truth that hurts M8 propaganda....
