Lebanese army deployed in border town of Arsal
Iran Press TV
Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:32AM GMT
The Lebanese army has been deployed in the town of Arsal, along the border with Syria, as part of efforts to calm down tensions from the spillover of Syria's conflict there.
'The army arrived around 5:00 am, they have deployed in Arsal and they have opened the road leading out of the town towards Labweh,' AFP quoted Bakr Houjairi, a member of Arsal municipal council, as saying on Wednesday.
The road had been sealed off by residents from the neighboring town of Labweh, where one person was killed last week by a rocket fire. Locals blame Arsal for the rocket fire.
'So far the situation is very calm, we will see what will happen later, but we are happy to see the army here and opening the road up,' Houjairi added.
Tensions between the two towns have increased since the purging of foreign-backed militants by the Syrian army in the border town of Yabroud a few days ago. Yabroud's recapture prompted an exodus of militants, with many finding safe havens in or around Arsal.
On Sunday, Syrian forces pushed back the foreign-backed militants from Yabroud, the latter's last major stronghold in the mountainous region of Qalamoun, near the Lebanese border.
According to observers, the seizure of the town will affect the situation in Syria, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. Some sources say around 140,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the foreign-backed militancy.
IA/PR/HRB
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