DAILY SCOPE: 6 SOLDIERS MARTYRED IN TERRORIST AMBUSH, NEW CARD IN HANDS OF LEBANON

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Dulaimi Trained to Face Investigators ... "Chechani's Wife" Arrested

Ras Baalbek Ambush: Army Protects Border with Blood

AN-NAHAR:

Six Army Soldiers Martyred in Terrorist Ambush in Bekaa

Wives of Two Officials in "ISIS" and "Nusra" for Swap

AL-AKHBAR:

Army Massacred By Terrorists in Baalbeck Outskirts

Around 5:10 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, an army patrol circulating Ras Baalbeck terrains fell into an ambush set by a terrorist group. A clash took place between soldiers and terrorists, resulting in six martyrs among the military, and one slightly wounded soldier. The army sent reinforcements to the area. Military units have taken appropriate measures on ground.

Lebanese papers in general noted that this action reflects to what extent the terrorist groups are nervous and confused especially in light of the qualitative operations concluded by the Lebanese army.

As-Safir newspaper wrote "once again, the Lebanese army presents more sacrifices in the battle of defending Lebanon and its security in its confrontation with the terrorist groups on Tuesday, which had set an ambush for an army patrol in the outskirts of Ras Baalbeck city, where 6 soldiers were martyred and seven injured, according to the army communique."

This attack, according to as-Safir, came after the news that the Lebanese army has arrested a woman belonging to Daesh called Saja Hamid Dulaimi [with three of her children and the driver], in addition to arresting also Syrian Alaa Aqili, wife of Abu Ali Chichani [the well-known leader in al-Nusra front].

Analysts agree that the capture of Dualimi would strengthen Lebanon's hand in its struggle to secure the release of around 26 security personnel kidnapped by "ISIL" and the Nusra Front during fighting in the northeastern town of Arsal in August.

Dulaimi first drew international attention back in March when she was reported to be one of around 50 women released from prison by the Syrian government in return for al-Nusra Front's release of 13 nuns captured in the Christian Syrian town of Maaloula. At the time, she was reported to be Baghdadi's wife due to comments by al-Nusra Front commander, and several months later, pictures of a brown-eyed woman in a black headscarf emerged on the Internet purporting to be of the "ISIL" leader's bride.

The Lebanese daily underscored that the ambush reflects the mass amount of tension striking the takfiri groups, in light of the multiple accomplishments the Lebanese army has achieved which led to the capture of several terrorists in the different regions of Lebanon.

"As more ‘princes' wives' are arrested by the army, a new valuable card is now in the hands of the Lebanese negotiator when it comes to the kidnapped soldiers file," As-Safir read, noting that their wives can form pressure on the abductors who have demanded the freeing of some female prisoners from Syrian jails.

For its part, an-Nahar newspaper said that the ‘card' obtained by the Lebanese government through its security apparatuses can change the path of negotiations with the kidnappers of the Lebanese soldiers. The arrest, according to the paper, was a painful strike to the terrorist groups, who in turn set an ambush on Tuesday for the Lebanese army patrol in the Ras Baalbeck area.

Meanwhile, security and ministerial sources told al-Jomhouriya newspaper that the ambush that was set for the army will have serious repercussions on the communication between the abductors of the ary soldiers and the Lebanese negotiator, at least it will freeze it for a while until the whereabouts of the attack are clear. Owing to the attack, the different military and political references in the government are in direct contact to evaluate what had happened and confront its repercussions.

As for al-Akhbar newspaper, it shed light on what it described as a ‘remarkable detail' related to the watchtowers at the borders with Arsal, that were built by the British with direct request from former PM Najib Mikati.

According to reports in The Telegraph, the British squad built 12 watchtowers that were used by the Lebanese army to thwart the advance of IS toward the Mediterranean. Sources also told the newspaper that the towers prevented a "massacring" of inhabitants in Ras Baalbek, in the north of the country.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher said that the operation prevented IS from gaining further publicity by securing another territorial gain, as well as keeping Lebanon stable in a region that has become increasingly volatile due to infighting between Islamist militia groups.

Yet, according to al-Akhbar, the army soldiers, who can see what the cameras percept on screens have no access at all to the data base, with an exclusive right to the British to access it. Moreover, the Lebanese daily underlined that the plan of building the watchtowers had started way before the Arsal battles began.

Source: al-Ahed news