Ras Baalbeck and Arsal cleared of landmines: Army chief

BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army on Friday announced that the hinterlands of Arsal and Ras Baalbeck in the Bekaa, close to the border with Syria, are now clear of explosives, after having been occupied by Islamist groups between 2014 and 2017.

During an official celebration of the clearance, the head of the Lebanese Army, Gen. Joseph Aoun, thanked the "brotherly countries and Non-Government Organizations which helped us to achieve this mission."

"Because of this support, the army began clearing the hinterlands of Arsal and Ras Baalbeck and Kaa from explosive material as soon as we restored it from the hands of the terrorists [in 2017]," Aoun said.

In July 2017, Hezbollah launched the battle of the Arsal jurd against the jihadists of the Fatah al-Sham Front (formerly al-Nosra Front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda). A week later, the Lebanese army launched a battle in the same area, in the jurd of Kaa and Ras-Baalback, against Islamic State jihadists. The fighting ended with an agreement that the Islamic State would leave Lebanon to Syria.

Aoun added that the de-mining operations "facilitated the installation of military bases along the border and the development of a wide road network" in the rugged area. 

Aoun also thanked the USA, the biggest donor to the Lebanese army.

"Enough with the theories and false accusations and let them stand behind the army, which is the security base of Lebanon and will stay, and which will not deviate from its duties and oath," Aoun said, in response to general critics targeting the army.