US ambassador, Lebanese Army celebrate a mine-free Arsal and Ras Baalbek

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea joined Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun in Ras Baalbek on September 8 to celebrate the completion of explosives clearance in the area of Arsal and Ras Baalbek. Shea reviewed progress made since the 2017 defeat of jihadist groups in the area.

The United States has provided more than $5.9 million in assistance to the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to clear improvised explosive devices and mines left behind when the Lebanese Army ousted the terrorist groups out of Arsal in the "Dawn of the Hills" operation. After removal of 219 explosive devices and clearance of 2.9 million square meters of land, the Lebanese Army's Mine Action Center formally declared the region free of explosive remnants of war.

“Whether in Mount Lebanon, Akkar, the Bekaa, the Chouf, or in Arsal and Ras Baalbek, we are committed to keeping civilians safe and returning formerly mined land to productive use,” said Ambassador Shea during the ceremony.