Arsal Residents Flee to Baalbek as Deadly Nusra-IS Clashes Renew in Outskirts

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Fierce clashes renewed at noon Friday between the al-Nusra Front and Islamic State rival jihadist groups in the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal, state-run National News Agency reported.

The violent fighting has left several militants dead and wounded from both groups.

The clashes spread to most areas in Arsal's outskirts and in Syria's Qalamoun where al-Nusra and IS have posts.

NNA said there was ongoing fighting in al-Zamarani, Wadi al-Kheil, Khirbet al-Hosn, Qurnet al-Oueini, al-Malahi, Dahr al-Lizzabeh and al-Jarajir.

Meanwhile, the town of Arsal was witnessing “tensions between the residents and the militants,” the agency reported.

It also said the Lebanese army went on alert in the area and was intermittently shelling movements by the militants in Ras Baalbek's outskirts.

Later on Friday, NNA said the IS-Nusra clashes in Arsal's outskirts have resulted in the "death of five Nusra militants and the capture of six" at the hands of the IS.

The IS has also seized control of a Nusra camp between the areas of al-Malahi and Khirbet Hamam, the agency added.

Several IS militants were also killed in the fighting, including a senior official called Abou Maria, NNA said.

Expecting a nighttime intensification of the battles, several Arsal residents fled to the Bekaa city of Baalbek where they have relatives, the agency reported.

A truce had been reached overnight between the two jihadists groups, according to media reports.

The Lebanese army has shelled the posts and movements of both groups during the clashes between them in recent days.

Several Nusra militants were killed or wounded overnight when the army targeted their vehicle that was moving in Arsal's outskirts.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, the jihadist fighting first erupted after al-Nusra launched a surprise attack against the IS group along the Lebanese-Syrian border as a result of the siege laid by the Lebanese army and Hizbullah against the two groups.

The clashes, which have left scores dead and injured, have been described as the bloodiest between the rival extremists.

The militants of al-Nusra and the IS clash with the army occasionally but a major confrontation erupted in August 2014 when the two groups overran Arsal.

Y.R.

Comments 5
Thumb nonabel. 29 January 2016, 18:44

Best news of the week. Let them kill each other and let our Lebanese Armed Forces go into Arsal and rid this Town of the Islamic scum so the residents can live in peace and dignity!

Missing helicopter 29 January 2016, 21:39

Absolutely, and once done let them go into Brital and Dahye and rid the town of all pro Hizb za3ran so the residents can live in peace and dignity

Thumb nonabel. 29 January 2016, 22:38

While Arsal is occupied by foreign fighters, Brital and Dahye are occupied by Lebanese. However, i do agree with you that many areas need to be cleansed from za3ran and the above mentioned included.
Wish you well!

Thumb justin 30 January 2016, 07:56

Brital and Dahyeh are occupied by iranians not lebanese.

Default-user-icon John (Guest) 29 January 2016, 22:35

The Arabic expression "Foukhar Iekasser Badou"