Jumblat Hails Hizbullah Fighters Killed in Arsal Battle
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hailed on Saturday Hizbullah's fighters who were killed during a battle to “eliminate” al-Nusra Front group militants from the outskirts of Arsal.
“We are waiting for the Lebanese army to conclude the operation in Arsal's outskirts, meanwhile we greet the martyrs of Hizbullah who have fallen during the first stage of the mission,” said Jumblat in a tweet.
Hizbullah launched a major ground offensive last week aimed at ending the yearslong presence of hundreds of militants in a border area between the two countries.
Reports said some two dozen Hizbullah fighters have been killed overall in the battle, and nearly 150 from the other side.
The offensive, which ended with a ceasefire agreement and a condition to release Hizbulah fighters captured by Nusra, was widely expected after negotiations with militants to leave the area failed over the past days.
The battle was fought by Syrian troops and Hizbullah gunmen on the Syrian side of the border while the Lebanese army will likely fight against the militants on the Lebanese side.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Saad Hariri said the country's military is preparing a military operation to secure a lawless section of the eastern border with Syria, namely al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek.
On Friday, Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Hatem Mallak visited military units deployed on the eastern border in the al-Qaa, Ras Baalbek and Arsal areas, inspecting their measures on the ground and giving the necessary instructions to the officers and soldiers.
Source: Associated Press, Naharnet
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