Nasrallah Hails Arsal 'Victory', Says Ready to Cede Captured Posts to Army

by Naharnet Newsdesk 26 July 2017, 20:34

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday declared a “major victory” in his group's offensive against the jihadist al-Nusra Front group in the outskirts of the eastern border town of Arsal, while announcing that Hizbullah is willing to hand over all captured territory to the Lebanese army.

“The Arsal battle had been planned since 2015... It was not an Iranian or a Syrian decision and we contacted the Syrian leadership and asked for their help in Flita,” said Nasrallah in a televised speech.

“Whoever has the slightest military knowledge would know that such a decision cannot be taken days before the battle, which needed preparation and is not linked to any political developments,” Nasrallah noted.

He boasted that “we are before a military victory that was achieved in 48 hours, surprising everyone,” pointing out that it was reached “with the least possible cost in terms of casualties.”

Turning to the Lebanese army's role in the ongoing developments, Nasrallah emphasized that what the army has done “in Arsal's vicinity and on the frontier was essential in the realization of this achievement.”

“The Lebanese army's approach foiled the ambitions of those who sought to exploit the situation in Arsal and were betting on stirring sedition,” Nasrallah added.

“Despite the difficult battle, the town of Arsal remained safe thanks to the army,” he underlined.

“Hizbullah does not want for Arsal and its residents anything but welfare, security, safety and dignity, and when the battle ends, we're ready -- if the Army Command asks -- to hand it over all of the recaptured posts and territory,” Nasrallah stressed.

As for the current situation on the ground, Hizbullah's chief said “progress is continuous.”

“I have asked the fighters to advance in a calculated manner and not to rush things, seeing as al-Nusra's remnants are encircled in a narrow area near refugee encampments. The operations must very accurate and there should be high caution in order to prevent any mistake,” Nasrallah noted.

“The mujahideen have achieved a major victory with the least possible casualties and we are very keen on our fighters,” he added.

“I call on friends and media outlets not to set a timeframe for us. The operation has truly neared its end but time is on our side and we must not rush things. We must also give a chance to a possible settlement through the ongoing negotiations for the withdrawal of the militants under certain conditions,” Nasrallah said.

He revealed that the “serious negotiations” had started on Tuesday that “an official Lebanese side” is in charge of the mediation.

“Al-Nusra's leadership in Arsal or Idlib must realize that the situation on the ground does not put it in a position that enables it to impose conditions. There is a chance now but there is not much time left and therefore they are asked to show more seriousness,” Nasrallah urged.

He added: “There are two tracks – combat and negotiations – and the two tracks are currently being pursued and we're trying to be patient in order to reach the needed result.”

And announced that al-Nusra Front's “military chapter in Lebanon has ended,” Nasrallah said Hizbullah “dedicates this victory to all Lebanese and the peoples in the region who have suffered from terrorism and takfiri brutality.”

As for the outskirts of the border towns of Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa, which are occupied by the jihadist Islamic State group, Nasrallah said he would address the issue “after the end of al-Nusra's file.”

Reinforcements from the army's elite units were pouring into the Bekaa region on Wednesday for a possible anti-IS operation in the outskirts of al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek.

Timeline

26 July 2017, 21:49
Nasrallah: As for the rest of the outskirts and Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa, I will talk about them after the end of al-Nusra's file.
26 July 2017, 21:44
Nasrallah: Al-Nusra Front's military chapter in Lebanon has ended although the security threat might remain. Our mujahideen, wounded and the families of our martyrs dedicate this victory to all Lebanese and the peoples in the region who have suffered from terrorism and takfiri brutality.
26 July 2017, 21:34
Nasrallah: There are two tracks – combat and negotiations – and the two tracks are currently being pursued and we're trying to be patient in order to reach the needed result.
26 July 2017, 21:32
Nasrallah: Al-Nusra's leadership in Arsal or Idlib must realize that the situation on the ground does not put it in a position that enables it to impose conditions. There is a chance now but there is not much time left and therefore they are asked to show more seriousness.
26 July 2017, 21:30
Nasrallah: Serious negotiations started yesterday and before that the discussion was unrealistic and had nothing to do with the facts on the ground. An official Lebanese side is in charge of the negotiations between us and al-Nusra's officials in Arsal.
26 July 2017, 21:28
Nasrallah: I call on friends and media outlets not to set a timeframe for us. The operation has truly neared its end but time is on our side and we must not rush things. We must also give a chance to a possible settlement through the ongoing negotiations for the withdrawal of the militants under certain conditions.
26 July 2017, 21:24
Nasrallah: Progress is continuous on the ground and I have asked the fighters to advance in a calculated manner and not to rush things, seeing as al-Nusra's remnants are encircled in a narrow area near refugee encampments. The operations must very accurate and there should be high caution in order to prevent any mistake. The mujahideen have achieved a major victory with the least possible casualties and we are very keen on our fighters.
26 July 2017, 21:17
Nasrallah: Hizbullah does not want for Arsal and its residents anything but welfare, security, safety and dignity, and when the battle ends, we're ready -- if the Army Command asks -- to hand it over all of the recaptured posts and territory.
26 July 2017, 21:14
Nasrallah: Ever since the incidents started years ago, Arsal and its residents have never been a target.
26 July 2017, 21:13
Nasrallah: Despite the difficult battle, the town of Arsal remained safe thanks to the army.
26 July 2017, 21:06
Nasrallah: The Lebanese army's approach foiled the ambitions of those who sought to exploit the situation in Arsal and were betting on stirring sedition.
26 July 2017, 21:03
Nasrallah: What the Lebanese army did in Arsal's vicinity and on the frontier was essential in the realization of this achievement.
26 July 2017, 21:00
Nasrallah: We are before a military victory that was achieved in 48 hours, surprising everyone, and it was reached with the least possible cost in terms of casualties.
26 July 2017, 20:55
Nasrallah: Whoever has the slightest military knowledge would know that such a decision cannot be taken days before the battle, which needed preparation and is not linked to any political developments.
26 July 2017, 20:52
Nasrallah: The Arsal battle had been planned since 2015... It was not an Iranian or a Syrian decision and we contacted the Syrian leadership and asked for their help in Flita.
26 July 2017, 20:50
Nasrallah: Today, I will not respond to the statements of Trump and the U.S. administration regarding Hizbullah, in order to facilitate the mission of the governmental delegation that is present there and in order not to embarrass it. We have time in the future to talk about the issue.
26 July 2017, 20:47
Nasrallah: Army Day will be marked in a few days, on August 1, and on this occasion I salute the army's command, officers, soldiers, captives and martyrs. It is also the national day of the Syrian Arab Army and I also salute its command.
26 July 2017, 20:40
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in televised speech: The resistance salutes and hails the people of Jerusalem, the West Bank and all Palestinians, who have flocked to the Old City in defense of al-Aqsa and have managed to impose a new victory through forcing the enemy to remove its new measures... This is a new experience of the resistance experiences.

Lebanon

Comments 16

EagleDawn 26 July 2017, 20:36

the day this iranian sectarian terrorist is brutally murdered is the day we celebrate our independence.

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Mystic 26 July 2017, 22:58

The areas of Arsal cleansed of Salafis will be handed over to the Lebanese army as the Sayed just said.

What is the problem then? Mission accomplished, and you lost.

So we can all be happy now.

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Elemental 26 July 2017, 21:08

Takia nonsense and babies with fake accounts, nice way to represent the Iranian regime...awaiting the BS nonsense :) All orchestrated to satisfy their bloodfeud and avenge Hussein, while exploiting and killing Christians at the same time.

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