Naharnet

Nasrallah to Give Televised Speech on Qalamoun 'Victory'

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to give a televised speech on Saturday on the battle that his fighters are waging in the Syrian region of Qalamoun.

Nasrallah's speech is expected to focus on the military, security and political aspects of the Qalamoun fighting taking place between Syrian forces backed by Hizbullah and jihadists, said As Safir daily on Friday.

The Syrian soldiers and Hizbullah members have lately made progress in the Qalamoun mountains along Lebanon's border, near the Syrian capital.

Sources expected Nasrallah to announce “victory” in the battle after his fighters took over several strategic positions, As Safir said.

On Wednesday, they took control of Tallet Moussa, the highest hilltop in Qalamoun.

The peak provides a line of sight over the border area.

Some 3,000 militants are in the Qalamoun region, almost equally split between the Nusra Front and the Islamic State group, a Hizbullah commander recently said.

Hizbullah cites that fear of militants sweeping through Shiite and Christian villages in diverse Lebanon as the reason for its involvement in Syria.

G.K.

D.A.


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