Zahra: Hizbullah Violated Lebanon's Sovereignty, Overstepped Army's Role

Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said Hizbullah has “violated Lebanon's sovereignty” and “overstepped the army's role” when it decided to wage a battle against militants in the outskirts of Arsal.

“A battle waged by Hizbullah to liberate the outskirts of (Arsal) from al-Nusra Front militants is a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty,” said Zahra in an interview to VDL (93.3) on Friday.

The MP considered that “the party has taken over a role that the Lebanese army could have taken.'

“Hizbullah has secured political gains in return for evacuating terror groups from a specific part in the Eastern Mountain Rage,” said Zahra, adding that the Arsal battle is nothing but part of Hizbullah's battle inside Syria.

Hizbullah began the assault on fighters from al-Qaida's former Syrian affiliate, previously known as the Al-Nusra Front, in the border town of Arsal's last week.

On Thursday, a ceasefire deal has been reached that will see jihadist fighters withdraw from the Syria-Lebanon border.

Some Lebanese media outlets reported that part of the deal is that Hizbullah fighters held by jihadists would be freed.