Army Reinforcements Pour into Bekaa for Possible Anti-IS Attack
Reinforcements from the army's elite units were pouring into the Bekaa region on Wednesday for a possible operation against the jihadist Islamic State group in the outskirts of the border towns of al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek.
State-run National News Agency said the army's Airborne Regiment reinforced its posts in Ras Baalbek, al-Qaa and the neighboring areas, staged patrols and set up new military points “in anticipation of any infiltration or escape attempts by the militants into the two towns.”
A military source meanwhile told Sky News television that the army was putting the final touches on “plans for an assault on IS in the hills neighboring al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek.”
“Military reinforcements have been sent to all frontiers in Arsal, Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa seeing as these areas are considered a single front,” the source added.
Al-Arabiya television had earlier reported that “major reinforcements” from the army's Commando Regiment were “heading towards IS' posts in al-Qaa's outskirts.”
“Orders have been given to send large units from the Lebanese army to northern Bekaa,” Al-Arabiya quoted sources as saying.
Foreign Minister and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil meanwhile hinted from the United States that an army operation is looming in the horizon.
“We want to know the fate of our missing troops. We want to liberate the outskirts of al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek and all outskirts. IS' terrorism will not escape the grip of the army... Go after them, our heroes,” Bassil tweeted from Washington.
“Remember how much we had called for the army to liberate the eastern outskirts during the tenure of the previous government. A new president and a new army chief are now in charge and the time has come for keeping no land under occupation,” Bassil added.
The developments come amid a Hizbullah offensive in the outskirts of the border town of Arsal against the militants of the jihadist al-Nusra Front group and the battle is reportedly in its final stage.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is expected to declare his group's victory over al-Nusra during a speech Wednesday evening.
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