Cautious Calm on Outskirts of Ras Baalbek as Army Fortifies Posts
Relative calm prevailed on Saturday across the outskirts of the northeastern border village of Ras Baalbek in the Bekaa after the army fortified its posts in the area.
Sources said in comments published in As Safir newspaper that the “pre-emptive strike by the Lebanese army against the armed groups, which were preparing to attack weak posts in the area, had a harsh impact on them.”
“The militants were confused by the military's attack on its positions (on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek,” sources said basing its statement on the wiretapping that the army and security forces, which are heavily deployed in the area, are carrying out.
The source estimated that the militants are preparing for a swift retaliation to reclaim the land that the army controlled.
The army continued to target on Friday militant posts on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek, a day after it seized two hilltop positions.
Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji and Defense Minister Samir Moqbel toured the area of operation to inspect the progress of military.
The army command said in a communique that the operation was in line with efforts to secure villages near the eastern border with neighboring Syria.
The statement did not name the militants, but most are believed to be from the Islamic State group, who together with the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front have been holding around 20 Lebanese soldiers and policemen hostage since August.
The army frequently clashed with the militants in their hideouts near the Syria border.
H.K.
D.A.
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