Jihadist terrorist militias have been flooding into Arsal (in the Bekaa region of Lebanon) from Syria. ISIS and Al Nusra, the two baddest Wahhabi Jihadi militias have controlled much of the town. Recent developments, allegedly:
- ISIS attacks Lebanese army around Arsal.
- Lebanese army fights ISIS at Arsal.
- ISIS and Al Nusra have engaged Lebanese army forces, killing several resulted. Both Wahhabi militias have taken hostages.
- Chief (Emir) of ISIS in Arsal (apparently a Palestinian) was killed in the fighting, which pissed off his followers.
- Lebanese media report more kidnappings, and executions by the Jihadis in Arsal.
- Jihadi militias fire at entrance of Arsal, preventing people and the wounded from leaving.
- ISIS refuse to withdraw from Arsal.
- ISIS fires other militias trying to withdraw from Arsal (al Nusra, Green Brigade, Qalamoun Freedom).
- Iran official: we condemn movements by terrorist militias at Arsal.
- Al Nusra Front and ISIS fight at Arsal.
- Al Nusra pulls back, ISIS keeps firing at them.
- Hezbollah: security and protection of Lebanese citizens at Arsal is the job of the army.
- Saudi network Alarabiya claims that Hezbollah shells ISIS at Arsal.
- A truce is reached through intermediation between the Lebanese Army and ISIS. ISIS breaks the truce. Fighting resumes.
- Saudi king donates US$ 1 billion to the Lebanese Army (no, not out of his personal pocket). He presents this (very) publicly to Saad Al Hariri,
his man in Lebanon(his man in Paris). But how is Hariri going to carry $1 bn all the way to Beirut? Maybe it will go straight to Paris.
- French media gets excited about this new Saudi gift, it is not clear why.
- More alleged news from Arsal on the way. Stay tuned.
Cheers
Mohammed Haider Ghuloum