Reports: Nusra Front Readies to Rip into Arsal as U.S. Drones Offer Assistance to Army
The al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front is allegedly mobilizing to storm the northeastern border town of Arsal within days as information revealed that U.S. drones are flying over the area to collect data on militants and assist the Lebanese army.
Sources close to the jihadist group said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper Thursday that the fighting raging in Syria's Qalamoun between the Islamic State group and Nusra Front will compel the latter to withdraw into Arsal “soon.”
Despite ideological similarities, the two groups are opposed and in conflict with each other.
“The Front considers entering Arsal as a necessary evil... the state and Hizbullah and forcing us to enter Lebanon,” the sources warned.
Al-Nusra Front is cordoned off from all sides as forces of the Syrian regime and Hizbullah are clamping down on it from three axes: South near the outskirts of Nahle, North near Jousieh and Nehmat hill and from the East near the outskirts of Fleita and al-Jarajeer.
Thus, according to the daily, the outskirts near Lebanon's Ras Baalbek remain the only road open before al-Nusra Front, but it remains under the control of the IS.
The Nusra Front is left with one option, to head to Arsal, which is under the Lebanese army's control.
A Nusra field commander was quoted as saying: “We would only last for a month maximum on the outskirts.”
The sources pointed out that the group is suffering from a shortage in ammunition, stating that “it will not last long, which would force the fighters to enter Lebanon.”
Hizbullah backed by Syrian forces controlled strategic areas in Qalamoun that abuts Lebanon's eastern border as fighting rages in the region.
Hizbullah cites that fear of militants sweeping through Shiite and Christian villages in diverse Lebanon as one of the main reasons for their involvement in Syria.
Some observers however fear the Qalamoun offensive could prompt Islamist militants to launch attacks in Shiite areas of Lebanon itself, including Beirut's southern suburbs.
Meanwhile, As Safir newspaper reported that U.S. drones are flying over Arsal and monitoring the movement of gunmen as the data is being handed over to the Lebanese army.
The data indicates that few hundreds of fighters are entrenched on the outskirts in an area between 60 to 90 kilometer square.
The army has boosted its measures in Arsal recently to prevent fighters from entering Lebanon in an attempt to flee the Qalamoun battle.
“The army has strong will and is determined to confront terrorism no matter what the sacrifices are,” military sources told the newspaper.
Arsal Municipal chief Ali Hujeiri told the daily that the “residents of the town will not allow gunmen to create a fuss,” calling on jihadists “to leave the town.”
“The outskirts of Arsal is Lebanese land and the army could take all the necessary measures there,” Hujeiri stressed, denying that Hizbullah approached the area.
H.K.
G.K.
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