Arsal

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt:

“The sole mission should be expressing solidarity and support with the Lebanese Army and security forces in the face of armed groups and Takfirism. There is no haven or escape for us. (Salvation comes from) support of the state, especially the Army. I wish you we could all stop the hollow political debate about the presidency which is taking place from time to time, so that we can get to the election of the president of the republic and install the foundations of the state and state obligations.”

Hezbollah MP Nawwaf Musawi:

“The aggression surprised all Lebanese today, in pictures that provoked them when they saw the assault on their national dignity, because they realized that the threat that was trivialized by some became imminent and would soon reach their own homes. Everyone in Lebanon now knows that had we not done what we did when we appointed ourselves to defend Lebanon and the resistance then our situation today would have been like Arsal. Security forces, governmental institutions and the Lebanese Army would have been subject to attacks everywhere. For this reason, we are proud to be pioneers in evaluating the size of the Takfiri threat.”

Tripoli MP Mohammad Qabbara:

“What is happening in the heroic Sunni Arsal is nothing but an episode in the Syrian-Iranian series of subjecting the Sunni people. We are warning of transforming the Army from a national institution whose duty is to protect all the Lebanese in to one resembling Al-Maliki’s Army. Had the Army deployed along the border sooner then the country would not have got to where it is today.”

Kataeb Party head Amine Gemayel:

“Without a doubt the Army will win as long as the people rally around them.”

Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil:

“What is happening in Arsal is an armed foreign terrorist force’s occupation of a Lebanese town.”

(ARSAL, LEBANON) — At least 11 Lebanese Army soldiers were killed in Arsal, Lebanon during clashes between Army and Syrian groups on Saturday and Sunday. Security sources say at least 13 have also been taken hostage and 30 militants have been killed.

The 13 soldiers were taken hostage by extremist armed groups controlling many parts of Arsal, who assaulted Army vehicles and seized soldiers.

Army troops were reportedly able to take back control of Wadi Hmayyed, a neighborhood on the entrance of Arsal that has witnessed heavy, non-stop clashes.

Despite the ongoing threat to the Lebanese Army, officials say the Army is firmly vowing to carry on with its mission in northeast Lebanon until the threat is eradicated.

“The Army continued its military operations throughout the night and this morning in Arsal and its environs, as it pursued armed groups and clashed with them,” a statement by the Lebanese Army read.

“What happened today is the most dangerous incident Lebanon and the Lebanese have ever faced, because it’s made clear that there is someone planning and preparing to attack Lebanon as well as planning to sabotage the Lebanese Army and the residents of Arsal.”

Due to the escalation of the situation, a top security meeting was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, and will be headed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam in the Grand Serail, with a Cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday at noon.

The clashes in Arsal also sparked tensions in the northern city of Tripoli, where gunmen attacked Army posts and Army vehicles in the city, wounding two soldiers.