Report: Clashes with Armed Groups Aimed at Pressuring Army, Hizbullah
More clashes are expected to take place in the northeastern town of Arsal and other border areas, predicted a security source to As Safir newspaper on Saturday.
It expected the recurrence of such unrest as part of efforts by armed groups to pressure the army and Hizbullah “in an attempt to demonstrate their military might”, he explained.
These groups are seeking “to impose a new reality on the ground, as well as deplete the capabilities of the army and Hizbullah.”
The source revealed that the party went on alert on Friday in the wake of the army's clashes with terrorists in the Tallat al-Hamra area on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek.
Residents of nearby areas also took to arms in anticipation of the spread of the violence, it said.
Moreover, other security sources noted that the Tallat al-Hamra unrest erupted five days after Israel's strike against Syria's Quneitra region and ten days after the security forces seized control of Roumieh Prison's B block, which was controlled by Islamist inmates.
The gunbattles also broke out a day after Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji visited the northern Bekaa to inspect the troops deployed in Arsal and nearby regions.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper meanwhile reported on Saturday that prominent Islamic State military commander, al-Ahwazi, was killed in Friday's Tallat al-Hamra clashes.
Other Islamic State “emirs” Ghayyath Jomaa and Abou al-Walid al-Ansari were also killed in the unrest.
Five soldiers were killed and 14 wounded in Friday's fighting.
On Friday morning, said an army communique, terrorist groups attacked an army surveillance post in Tallat al-Hamra near the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Fierce clashes then erupted between the two sides and the army managed at noon to seize control of the area and repel the gunmen.
A number of gunmen were killed and wounded in the fighting.
M.T.
D.A.
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