Arsal Residents Vow to Defend Town Till Last Breath
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.
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