BEIRUT: The Syrian army and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement on Thursday launched an attack on Jaroud Arsal on the Lebanese-Syrian border to remove Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham (JFS) from the region.
Fighters of the JFS (formerly Al-Nusra Front) have taken refuge in Jaroud Arsal ever since war broke out in Syria’s Qalamoun region.
Lebanon’s army is not involved in the current campaign, a military source told Arab News. “However, the army maintained its highest readiness levels and took strict security measures to sustain security inside Arsal and on its borders, and control all the entrances to the region,” the source said.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s press office said he followed up on security measures and received reports about the army command “to prevent militiamen from crossing the borders.”
The National News Agency reported that a special meeting was held by the Central Internal Security Council at the Interior Ministry.
The meeting was attended by security and judiciary leaders to keep up to date with the situation in Jaroud Arsal and its consequences inside Lebanon. The meeting also discussed measures that should be taken to protect civilians, and ways to calm anger on social media.
Hezbollah used heavy artillery against JFS locations, which were bombed by Syrian warplanes.
Security sources told Arab News that Hezbollah stormed Arsal from the Syrian town of Flita, and from the eastern mountain range that has been under the party’s control since 2015.
Hezbollah media reported that the party has taken the hills of Qanzah, As, Al-Rahwa valley and Dahrat Al-Howat from JFS.
Hezbollah media said the party’s fighters destroyed two JFS vehicles on a road south of Wadi Hmaid, killing those inside.
Social media circulated a Hezbollah video showing the bloodied corpses of JFS fighters on the ground.
The video also featured Hezbollah fighters talking to injured JFS men.
A Lebanese military source told Arab News that the battle could be protracted due to the region’s difficult terrain.
Life was normal in the town of Arsal, which has not been affected by the bombing. A Lebanese army site on the outskirts of Arsal witnessed Syrian refugees who were stuck in Jaroud Arsal with JFS fighters, and who requested refuge in the town.
The Lebanese military source said 30-40 women and children, scared of the heavy shelling, were allowed to enter the town.
UNHCR representatives said they followed up the entry of refugees who sought refuge in Arsal.
Fighters of the JFS (formerly Al-Nusra Front) have taken refuge in Jaroud Arsal ever since war broke out in Syria’s Qalamoun region.
Lebanon’s army is not involved in the current campaign, a military source told Arab News. “However, the army maintained its highest readiness levels and took strict security measures to sustain security inside Arsal and on its borders, and control all the entrances to the region,” the source said.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s press office said he followed up on security measures and received reports about the army command “to prevent militiamen from crossing the borders.”
The National News Agency reported that a special meeting was held by the Central Internal Security Council at the Interior Ministry.
The meeting was attended by security and judiciary leaders to keep up to date with the situation in Jaroud Arsal and its consequences inside Lebanon. The meeting also discussed measures that should be taken to protect civilians, and ways to calm anger on social media.
Hezbollah used heavy artillery against JFS locations, which were bombed by Syrian warplanes.
Security sources told Arab News that Hezbollah stormed Arsal from the Syrian town of Flita, and from the eastern mountain range that has been under the party’s control since 2015.
Hezbollah media reported that the party has taken the hills of Qanzah, As, Al-Rahwa valley and Dahrat Al-Howat from JFS.
Hezbollah media said the party’s fighters destroyed two JFS vehicles on a road south of Wadi Hmaid, killing those inside.
Social media circulated a Hezbollah video showing the bloodied corpses of JFS fighters on the ground.
The video also featured Hezbollah fighters talking to injured JFS men.
A Lebanese military source told Arab News that the battle could be protracted due to the region’s difficult terrain.
Life was normal in the town of Arsal, which has not been affected by the bombing. A Lebanese army site on the outskirts of Arsal witnessed Syrian refugees who were stuck in Jaroud Arsal with JFS fighters, and who requested refuge in the town.
The Lebanese military source said 30-40 women and children, scared of the heavy shelling, were allowed to enter the town.
UNHCR representatives said they followed up the entry of refugees who sought refuge in Arsal.
