Hizbullah 'Eyes IS Battle' after 'Near End' Assault against Nusra
Hizbullah fighters have made “additional gains” in their fight against al-Nusra Front militant group along the eastern border with war-ravaged Syria, and plan to wage an assault against the Islamic State organization located on the other side of the outskirts, media reports said on Tuesday.
LBCI said that Hizbullah was able to seize control on Tuesday of Wadi Kamil, Wadi Hammoudi, Makaabat al-Forn, al-Baydar, Shaabat al-Nahle and Wadi Dalil al-Barak, in Arsal's outskirts.
On Monday Hizbullah said its fight against the militant groups was "nearing its end", and called on fighters to surrender.
A senior Hizbullah leader told al-Joumhouria daily on Tuesday that its fighters will fight militants of the Islamic State on the other side of the outskirts after concluding their battle with Nusra.
“We can say that the decision has been made, and preparations for media tours in the liberated region will begin today. But, the battle does not end here, it will be completed very soon on the other side of the outskirts occupied by the Islamic State terrorists. We are in the process of liberating the region and cleaning it of any traces of terrorists,” the Hizbullah source told the daily on condition of anonymity.
Hizbullah announced a major push on Friday to clear both sides of Lebanon's border with Syria from "armed terrorists".
The clashes are focused on the outskirts of Arsal, a mountainous area around the Lebanese border town of Arsal.
Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees live in the town and the surrounding outskirts Arsal area, some in camps.
"The battle against (former Al-Qaeda branch) Al-Nusra Front is nearing its end," Hizbullah's War Media outlet said on Monday.
"We call on all fighters left in outskirts if Arsal to save themselves by laying down their arms and surrendering to guarantee their safety," it added.
Details on military developments in Arsal's outskirts are limited to Hizbullah's War Media channel as most local and international media have been barred from the area.
Hizbullah, which has been fighting alongside Syrian government forces since 2013, announced the offensive on Friday morning.
The clashes have killed at least one civilian, and Hizbullah has carried out funeral services for at least 18 of its fighters.
The Lebanese army has not officially declared its participation in the offensive but has fired shells on "terrorists" in the area.
On Monday, the army and the Lebanese Red Cross helped 79 women and children refugees fleeing Jurud Arsal camps into the town of Arsal, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said.
Security around Arsal has long been a concern, with Lebanese security forces battling jihadists in the area in 2014.
Tensions boiled over again last month, when Lebanese army raids on refugee camps near Arsal were met with a string of suicide attacks and grenades that left a young girl dead.
The army subsequently made dozens of arrests but announced days later that four of the detainees had died of pre-existing medical conditions, sparking allegations of torture.
On Monday, a government medical committee tasked with investigating the incident concluded the "deaths were not the result of acts of violence," but of "a variety of health problems," NNA said.
Source: Naharnet, Agence France Presse
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