A large number of gunmen fled Syria’s Yabroud after the Syrian army took full control of the city, and headed to the mountainous regions of Lebanon’s Arsal.
In this context, a security source told LBCI that gunmen have deployed in Arsal’s mountainous areas, noting that the Lebanese Armed Forces started implementing additional security measures, including the closure of Arsal-Labweh road.
Meanwhile, Syrian warplanes launched 5 strikes on Arsal amid heavy flights over the area. This as, 7 bodies and around 100 injured, mostly Syrians, were transferred from Yabroud to a field hospital in Arsal, the state-run National News Agency reported. Other security sources said the Flita passage is the only crossing point that remained opened into the Lebanese territories, noting that its closure from the Lebanese side has become difficult, since the region turned into an area of military operations and is witnessing air raids.
In this context, Arsal’s Mayor Ali al-Hujairy denied, in a statement to LBCI’s Nharkom Said, reports stating that gunmen fled to the town, stressing that Yabroud has not yet fallen into the grip of the Syrian army.
For his part, Labweh’s Mayor Ramez Nasser Amhaz told LBCI that “this is normal reaction to the rocket attack that targeted the town,” stressing that the Lebanese state is the sole guarantee and it is capable of arresting gunmen and criminals.
Amhaz also pointed out that the town’s citizens are taking measures to protect themselves, in cooperation with the Lebanese army and the security forces.
High-ranking figures of Lebanon’s border town of Arsal condemned all kinds of terrorism as well as rockets launched from the eastern mountain range. “They are rockets of sedition that solely aim to sow strife and spread chaos," they said in a statement on Sunday. In this regard, Arsal’s figures called on President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Tammam Salam to assume their responsibilities towards the town. The statement also condemned the closure of roads leading to Arsal, urging the Lebanese army and the security forces to deploy along the eastern border and to take all necessary measures to stop violations. For the full report, please click on the VIDEO above