Heightened Security Measures ahead of Ashura Peak on Tuesday

Hizbullah and the AMAL movement's security measures in and around Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahieh will reach their peak as the tenth day of Ashura approaches on Tuesday, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

The residents of the area have voiced their satisfaction with the measures despite the traffic caused by the security efforts.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is expected to make a televised speech on Tuesday to mark the tenth day of Ashura.

Fears have been raised over the possibility of Ashura mourning gatherings being targeted by terrorist attacks in the wake of Hizbullah's participation in the fighting in Syria in support of the country's regime.

An Nahar added that the residents of Dahieh have not been deterred by the threats of the Islamic State and al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front groups and instead insist on attending Hizbullah, AMAL, and Higher Islamic Shiite Council-organized Ashura congregations.

Unarmed members of Hizbullah and AMAL have been seen near security forces checkpoints in Dahieh, particularly in neighborhoods where the congregations are being held.

These neighborhoods include al-Rouweis where Hizbullah's main gatherings take place, the Mouwad neighborhood where AMAL's gatherings are held, and various areas of Bourj al-Barajneh, the old airport road, and al-Laylaki.

Ashura marks the death of Imam Hussein over 1,300 years ago.

Millions of Shiites around the world mark Ashura, which this year climaxes on November 3, by setting up procession tents.

Over the past year, Syrian troops and Hizbullah fighters have captured most of the towns and villages in Syria's mountainous Qalamun region along the Lebanon border, depriving the rebels of residential areas where they can stay during the winter.

Hizbullah fighters have also clashed with jihadists, who infiltrated Lebanese territories.

Al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate al-Nusra Front recently attacked positions manned by Hizbullah on the outskirts of Brital, killing several of its fighters.

There have been reports of other skirmishes between Hizbullah and militants along the Lebanon-Syria border.

M.T.

D.A.