Army 'Unenthusiastic' for Arsal Battle, 'Not Coordinating' with Damascus

Damascus has not informed Lebanese authorities in advance of any of its recent airstrikes on Arsal's outskirts and the Lebanese army is not coordinating with the Syrian army in this regard, according to high-ranking security sources.

“The military command in Lebanon is unenthusiastic and unwilling to launch an operation in the outskirts amid the current circumstances, although it hopes it will be able to put an end to the presence of militants and terrorists in the border region as soon as possible through its preemptive operations that were intensified recently and through the continuous artillery shelling of their gatherings,” the sources told Asharq al-Awsat daily in remarks published Thursday.

As for the ultimatum that Hizbullah has issued for the militant groups in the area, the sources noted that “the Army Command will be obliged to follow up on any battle launched by Hizbullah through preventing the escape of extremists to the town of Arsal or to other areas inside Lebanon.”

The army will also have to “prevent the exit of any militants from the encampments that are spread across the town,” the sources added.