Ceasefire Deal Reached in Arsal's Outskirts

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Fighting between Hizbullah and a former al-Qaida affiliate on the Syria-Lebanon border halted Thursday after a ceasefire was reached, Lebanese media and Hizbullah outlets reported.

The ceasefire comes a week after Hizbullah launched an offensive against the jihadists in the mountainous border region of Arsal's outskirts.

Hizbullah's War Media Channel said it suspended combat operations in the outskirts of Arsal starting 6:00 am today.

The National News Agency said the ceasefire was agreed between Hizbullah fighters and militants of al-Nusra Front after mediation efforts carried out by General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim succeeded at sealing the deal.

The ceasefire deal, which came into effect at 6:00 am, was reached when a condition related to Hizbullah's fighters was met, NNA said.

Under the deal, the remaining fighters from the al-Nusra Front will withdraw from the region.

NNA added that Ibrahim is due to release a ceasefire announcement on the deal later on Thursday. The al-Nusra fighters and their families will go to Idlib, a province in northwestern Syria largely under the control of the jihadists.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday declared a “major victory” in his group's offensive against the jihadist al-Nusra Front group, while announcing that Hizbullah is willing to hand over all captured territory to the Lebanese army.

He also revealed that a possible settlement could be reached through “ongoing negotiations” for the withdrawal of the militants under certain conditions. He said the “serious negotiations” had started on Tuesday and that “an official Lebanese side” is in charge of the mediation.

Hizbullah has waged a five-day offensive across the scraggy landscape of Arsal's outskirts to oust what it says are ex-al-Qaida Syrian jihadists.

Syrian warplanes have backed the push with regular air strikes from their side of the frontier.

Lebanon's army has not officially declared its participation in the operation, but has shelled "terrorists" in the area.

Comments 10
Thumb liberty 27 July 2017, 08:43

who other than abbas to lead such negotiations on behalf of hezbollah;)

Thumb Mystic 27 July 2017, 17:47

The salafis gave up, that's dissappointing.
Would've been better if they fought till the end.

But ofcourse cowards gives up.

Thumb doodle-dude 27 July 2017, 18:37

Have you ever asked yourself Mystic why the 5 hezbollah brave prisoners held by nusra did not fight till the death and till the end.....

Thumb justin 27 July 2017, 08:46

Nassrallah omitted to mention that he and his sidekick ibrahim have been negotiating with Qatar so as not to bring it out in the open that Qatar is Nusra's sponsor. After all Qatar is his and Iran's ally.

Thumb ashtah 27 July 2017, 08:52

Nassrallah never mentions Qatar in his weekly attacks on the Gulf countries, no wonder.

Thumb ex-fpm 27 July 2017, 12:53

The picture is finally clear: Abu Malek with his 200 men was once going to conquer Jounieh and Beirut. After the Holy attack of Hezbollah, Abu Malek will leave the mountainous areas of Arsal with 175 men while Hezbollah had lost 70 of its men ( injured and dead).

Thumb barrymore 27 July 2017, 13:37

yes but no more deep caves, 3 kms tunnels, digital-age command and control centers, and cigarettes that abu talleh left behind.

Thumb doodle-dude 27 July 2017, 18:36

loooool

Missing cimitero 27 July 2017, 16:08

The boogeyman under the bed was just a pair of sox. They milked it for all it's worth so Hassan popped out yesterday to pronounce this cynical media campaign over ultimately costing the hezb, so far, at least a couple of dozens dead. The video footage of the booty, that their media blitz came back with post victory, was embarrassing and comical. The pride people felt seeing the Lebanese flags flying over some rock was offset by the footage of the liberated Nusra positions; less stocked than most makeshift civil war shelters and slum home pantries. They said - time for talking is over - we won't stop until the terrorists are wiped out - nowhere to run no where to hide.. But hey, at least they captured the magical robe of Abou Malek el Talleh and two cartons of his prized eggs and onions, but the butter and cheese got away so omelettes are out of the question at this time.

Thumb shab 27 July 2017, 18:07

lool