Berri Says Battle in Arsal an 'Achievement'

Speaker Nabih Berri described as an “achievement” the recent Hizbullah operation against the jihadist al-Nusra Front group in the outskirts of Arsal, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

“What happened in the outskirts is a great achievement that is in its final stages,” Berri was quoted as telling his visitors.

However the Speaker added that “danger still lingers namely that terrorists from the Islamic State group are still entrenched in the outskirts of Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa.

“They are located in an area twice as big as that (occupied) of al-Nusra. In my opinion this should be completed by liberating that area. I believe that the Army's role in the outskirts of Ras Baalbek will be bigger,” added Berri.

The Lebanese Army is gearing for a battle against the Islamic State group militants on the eastern borders in the al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek.

The step comes in the wake of a Hizbullah assault in Arsal's outskirts that managed to oust al-Nusra Front's jihadists from the area.

“Areas of al-Nusra are geographically much more difficult than Ras Baalbek, not to mention the presence of refugees near it, as well as Arsal which they used to control. The greatest danger has been eliminated and it was embodied in the entry of terrorists into camps of the displaced in Arsal making it more difficult to get them out. The battle in the outskirts of Ras Baalbek is much easier,” he added.