Hezbollah Tightens Noose Around Terrorists

Date: 23 July 2017 - 21:38

News ID: ۴۲۰۴۹

BEIRUT (Dispatches) -- Hezbollah fighters captured more territory from militants in fierce fighting in the Arsal outskirts Sunday, the third day of an offensive that looks set to clear the area of Takfiri terrorists.
Security sources said that by early afternoon, Hezbollah had gained control of more than 70% of an enclave held by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, previously known as the Nusra Front, and appeared to be rapidly closing in on their last stronghold in the area.
A source said at least 143 terrorists had been killed in the offensive since it began at dawn on Friday.
The so-called Free Syrian Army-affiliated Saraya Ahl al-Sham group, which has hundreds of terrorists in the area, pulled out of the fight and was in talks with Hezbollah to gain passage to militant-held areas in Syria, Lebanon’s Daily Star reported.
After capturing the last Jabhat Fatah al-Sham stronghold in the area, Hezbollah fighters will next advance on territory held by Daesh, east and northeast of Arsal, it said.
Hezbollah's War Media Center said the group stormed Fatah al-Sham's operation's room in Wadi al-Khayl, it's last key position.
On Sunday morning, Hezbollah managed to control strategic positions including a vital Jabhat Fatah al-Sham outpost in Wadi al-Ouaynah.
The fighters also seized control on the Shoaabat al-Qalaa hill, which is the highest peak in the mountain range, at 2,350 meters above sea level. This gave Hezbollah the high ground over militant controlled positions in Wadi al-Dub and Wadi al-Rayhan.
The Lebanese Army Sunday morning prevented terrorists from infiltrating its positions. It announced that its artillery shelled a group of militants at Dahr al-Safa, to prevent them infiltrating Army positions in Arsal.
There were also more airstrikes carried out by the Syrian air force targeting positions held by terrorists and cover the Hezbollah advances.

Advances in Raqqah

Syrian government forces and their allies recaptured territory from Daesh southeast of its stronghold Raqqah after airstrikes in the area, a military media unit and war monitors reported.
The advances towards the provincial boundary between Raqqah and Dayr al-Zawr took place late on Saturday, the Hezbollah media unit and the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The army seized an oil field in the Sabkha area as part of the advance.
It was a rare advance for Damascus's forces in the area, which is close to territory controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-dominated alliance. It also brings government forces closer to Dayr al-Zawr province, another Daesh stronghold.
The Syrian army has active front lines with Daesh in western Raqqah province and has made recent gains there. Incidents between the Syrian military and SDF last month raised tension between Washington and Damascus and its ally Moscow.
Hezbollah Ready to Confront Israel
Hezbollah’s Executive Council head Sayyed Hashem Safieddine said the resistance movement is ready for any potential war with Israel.
"Resistance is fighting today in every area and town (in Lebanon) to the Syrian desert ... and if this resistance needs to fight in a confrontation with the Israeli enemy simultaneously, the party will fight and achieve accomplishments,” Safieddine said in a memorial service in south Lebanon’s Nabatieh.
Hezbollah's members have been fighting in Syria alongside the Syrian government since 2013.
However, several senior Hezbollah officials have announced the party’s readiness to respond to any Israeli attack on Lebanon despite Hezbollah’s engagement in the battles against terrorists in Syria and Iraq.
Despite the recently heightened rhetoric between Hezbollah and Zionist officials, the south Lebanon border has remained relatively calm since 2006 following the end of a 33-day conflict in a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations.
"What these honest people, (Lebanese) Army and Hezbollah are doing these days on the outskirts of Qalamoun (in Syria) and Arsal outskirts protects all of Lebanon,” Safieddine said.
The Lebanese Army has cordoned off the town of Arsal and has been shelling terrorists reportedly attempting to advance towards the town.