Report: Army Apt to 'Liberate' Lebanon's Outskirts from Militants
The number of militants spread out in some of Lebanon's outskirts have remarkably dwindled due to the army's measures, which makes any military operation to entirely liberate the outskirts much easier than before, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.
Security and intelligence reports said the number of militant groups has decreased significantly because of the Lebanese army's siege, in addition to members who get killed as the result of army shelling. Reports have shown that no more than 500 militant fighters still exist on the outskirts which makes a military action against them much easier than before, said the daily.
A senior military source told the newspaper: “The army is studying its plans well and is ready for any confrontation, including the liberation of the outskirts. The political decision is available, but accurate calculations are made for any battle.
“The US permanent military aid for the army and the arrival of planes to the Riyaq airport give several indications. The Americans are ready to help us in any war to clean up the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front.”
The source stressed that “Lebanon is part of the international coalition against the IS. The international community is helping us fight terrorism and it will backs us in any future battle.”
The sources affirmed that the Lebanese army is fighting alone on Lebanon's soil and is ready to make more sacrifices to liberate any area on its land.
Militants from the IS and al-Nusra Front, which rebranded itself as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham when it split from the al-Qaida movement, are entrenched in rugged areas along the undemarcated Lebanese-Syrian border and the army regularly shells their posts while Hizbullah and the Syrian army have engaged in clashes with them on the Syrian side of the border.
The two groups briefly overran the town of Arsal in August 2014 before being ousted by the army after days of deadly battles.
The retreating militants abducted more than 30 troops and policemen of whom four have been executed and nine remain in the captivity of the IS group
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/229308 |