Berri: Resistance Fighters Battling Militants on Behalf of Lebanon

Speaker Nabih Berri lauded the “efforts” of the Resistance fighters as he assured that they are battling al-Nusra Front militants in the outskirts of Arsal “on behalf of Lebanon and the Lebanese,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“The outskirts of Arsal is an occupied Lebanese land. It is our duty to liberate it. The Resistance is fighting the terrorists there. It is doing so on behalf of Lebanon and the entire Lebanese without exception, just as our fight against the Israelis in the south (in 2006) expressed the opinion of Lebanon and Lebanese,” Berri was quoted by the daily as telling his visitors.

“Today, the troika of Army, People, Resistance stands out to express itself well. Today, like always, the people stand behind the Army and the Resistance,” he added.

Berri's remarks came after Hizbullah announced a major push on Friday along the eastern border to clear both sides of Lebanon's border with Syria from "armed terrorists".

The clashes are focused on outskirts of Arsal, a mountainous area around the Lebanese border town of Arsal.

The Lebanese army has not officially declared its participation in the offensive but has fired shells on "terrorists" in the area.

On Monday, the army and the Lebanese Red Cross helped 79 women and children refugees fleeing the outskirts' camps into the town of Arsal, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said.

Some political factions, mainly the Kataeb party and al-Mustaqbal Movement condemned Hizbullah's operations.

The Kataeb Party had on Monday accused the ruling political class of “giving up sovereignty,” in connection with Hizbullah's operation.