Heavy Hizbullah Shelling Hits Arsal Outskirts as Report Says 'Operation' Underway
Heavy Hizbullah shelling was on Thursday targeting militant posts in the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal, as a media report said the group's long-anticipated “operation” against jihadists in the area had started.
“Hizbullah has targeted militant posts in Wadi al-Kheil in Arsal's outskirts with fierce artillery shelling,” LBCI TV reported.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) meanwhile said “Hizbullah has started its major operation with artillery shelling at the outskirts of Flita (in Syria) and Wadi al-Kheil in Arsal's outskirts, where al-Nusra Front has positions.”
“The sounds of Hizbullah's artillery shelling are being clearly heard in the regions of al-Labweh, al-Nabi Otheman, al-Ain and al-Bazzaliyeh” in northern Bekaa, the radio network said.
“The Lebanese Red Cross has started setting up field centers in al-Fakiha and nothern Bekaa,” Voice of Lebanon said.
The radio network also reported that the Lebanese army had reinforced its outposts “in anticipation of any responses from the militants against army posts in Arsal's vicinity or northern Bekaa.”
TV networks meanwhile reported that Syrian warplanes had waged a fresh raid on al-Nusra's posts in the border region.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had on July 11 warned jihadist militants in Arsal's outskirts that “there is not much time left for settlements.”
“It’s about time we put an end to the threat of the militant groups in Arsal’s outskirts,” he said.
Nusra jihadists and others from the rival Islamic State group are entrenched in Arsal's outskirts and other areas along the Lebanese-Syrian border.
The Lebanese army regularly shells their posts while Hizbullah and the Syrian army have engaged in clashes with them on the Syrian side of the border.
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