Lebanese Army Confronts Takfiris in Arsal Operation

Local Editor

The Lebanese army has been calling up reinforcements in the Bekaa town of Arsal on Sunday, a day after it started military operation against the Takfiri militants.
The army issued a statement on Sunday, saying that fierce clashes were taking place in Arsal, as a part of the battle with Takfiris of the terrorist groups al-Nusra Front and ISIL.

"The Army continued its military operations throughout the night and this morning in Arsal and its outskirts, as it pursued armed groups and clashed with them," the statement said.

It added that the militants are shelling the town, noting that the army soldiers are responding to the fire sources.

Earlier on Sunday night, the army announced it had gained full control of the Wadi Hamyyed area in Arsal, saying the move was part of a process to liberate the nearby hills, as reported by the Lebanese state-run news agency NNA.

The statement urged media outlets to abide by the statements which are only issued by the military command, noting that some media sources are circulating false information regarding the numbers of the martyrs.

Meanwhile, a security source said on Monday at least 11 Lebanese Army soldiers were killed and 13 were taken hostage in Arsal, during the clashes.

According to the source, in addition to the 16 Internal Security Force members, 13 Army soldiers were taken hostage by extremist armed groups controlling many parts of Arsal, who also assaulted Army vehicles and seized soldiers.

Media reports said a military base belonging to the Army, located near the technical institute of Arsal, was directly attacked by militants, and TV channels showed black smoke erupting from the base, indicating clear damage in the building.
Media reports said the Army was able to free two of the wounded soldiers, after raiding the house in which they were apprehended by armed groups. The reports mentioned that the Army unit also arrested many gunmen, whose photos were shown by Al-Jadeed TV.
The clashes in Arsal also sparked tensions in the northern city of Tripoli, where gunmen attacked Army posts and Army vehicles in the city, wounding two soldiers.
The Army had released a statement Saturday, accusing the armed groups launching the attacks of implementing a plan against Lebanon.

"What happened today is the most dangerous incident Lebanon and the Lebanese have ever faced, because it's made clear that there is someone planning and preparing to attack Lebanon as well as planning to sabotage the Lebanese Army," the statement said.

Earlier on Frday, the Lebanese army arrested a major "leader" of al-Nusra Front in eastern region of Arsal, known as Abu Ahmad Jomaa, a frontrunner of one of the Qalamoun armed groups.

Following the arrest, and in an attempt to release the detainee, gunmen set up barriers inside Arsal town and cordoned off the headquarters of the army's detachment to press for the release of the terrorist 'Jomaa'.

The gunmen attacked government checkpoints and police stations in and around Arsal. Two soldiers were killed in Wadi Hmayyed, and at least one was wounded in Arsal, a security source said.

During interrogations, Jomaa confessed to belonging to al-Nusra front, the army statement read.

Source: Websites, edited by website team