The Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah took journalists on a tour to Juroud Arsal, northeast of Beirut, on Saturday after a cease-fire took effect in the mountainous area on the Lebanese-Syrian border. The group, also known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, was al-Qaida's proxy in Syria until last year, when it formally severed ties with the global jihadist network and rebranded itself as part of the Tahrir al-Sham Islamist alliance. The Arsal region was the scene of some of the most serious spillovers of the Syrian civil war into Lebanon. Nusra Front and Islamic State operatives briefly overran the town, abducting dozens of Lebanese soldiers and policemen. The cease-fire took effect on Thursday, halting fighting in the area where Hezbollah launched its assault on Nusra Front operatives on July 21. The barren, rocky hilltops that formed Hezbollah's newest front line with jihadists were tough to capture, the group's media representative said. "Everyone knows the battle was extremely difficult, as you looked through the footage of [Hezbollah] military handout and this current tour. The terrain was very tough, fighting there was very hard, which means what was realized is important for several reasons including what I mentioned," Hezbollah official Mohammed Afifi told reporters. A source familiar with the negotiations, brokered by a Lebanese internal security agency, said the remaining Nusra Front operatives were willing to accept safe passage to Syria's rebel-held Idlib and talks were continuing to agree the route they would take. Hezbollah is demanding the release of five of its fighters held by Nusra Front in Syria as part of the deal, the source said.
Political analyst Ghassan Jawad said, "The liberation of these areas will reflect positively on the security situation in Lebanon. We have an indication of the huge areas captured by the resistance in record time and efficiency. ... As you can see, the military geography of the area is very tough, which means the resistance got a new victory. ... The Lebanese army will definitely be on a serious military operation, and it is now discussing its preparation, a large military operation against Islamic State to protect the Lebanese borders."
Hebzollah takes journalists to former Nusra Front positions
Lebanon-based terrorist group takes reporters on tour of Juroud Arsal, scene of the most serious spillovers of the Syrian civil war into Lebanon • Area's liberation will reflect positively on the security situation in Lebanon, political analyst says.
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