Hizbullah Calls for Coordination between Syrian, Lebanese Army to Control Border

Hizbullah denied on Thursday that its fighters carried out a “military show off” in the northern Bekaa Valley, calling for coordination between the Lebanese and Syrian army to control the border and prevent gunmen from freely moving.

“It's normal for the party to monitor security and unusual activities at towns like al-Labweh, Nabi Othman and Hermel that Hizbullah has presence in,” Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc lawmaker Walid Sukkarieh told al-Joumhouria newspaper.

“We don't want to be gripped by booby-trapped cars and assassination bids.”

On Tuesday, media reports said that Hizbullah fighters heavily deployed in the northern Bekaa Valley in a first-of-its kind appearance by the party that previously sought to move discretely during the night in the area.

According to An Nahar newspaper, Hizbullah fighters moved military vehicles, cannons and rocket launchers at midday in al-Labweh, al-Ain and several other areas on the eastern mountain range near the border with Syria.

“All residents are on their guards,” Sukkarieh told al-Joumhouria.

The March 14 coalition considered Hizbullah's deployment in the area to confront Syrian opposition gunmen violates Lebanon's sovereignty, “embarrass” the cabinet and lures extremists to target the country.

The alliance, according to the newspaper, urged the cabinet to end this “serious violation.”

For his part, Hizbullah MP Sukkarieh called for cooperation between the Lebanese army and Syrian military to control the flow of gunmen through the border.

He pointed out that the presence of security forces along the border in the eastern town of Arsal isn't enough.

In April, the army kicked off preliminary measures to begin implementing in the northern and central Bekaa a security plan similar to the one executed in the northern city of Tripoli.

The army removed then Hizbullah checkpoints between the regions of Baalbek and al-Hermel and in Arsal is the first sign of the implementation of the plan.

The impact of the Syrian crisis has been felt in the Bekaa, with the army arresting a number of gunmen attempting to enter Lebanon illegally from the neighboring country and seizing booby-trapped vehicles that were to be used in terrorist attacks in Lebanon.

H.K.

G.K.