ISIS Terrorists Hit as Lebanese Army Liberates Hills in Ras Baalbek, Fakha

Army infantry took the position by advancing through the hills to the north of Wadi Hmayed, near Arsal, under “heavy” air and rocket support from Army planes and artillery. The Army’s offensive killed six terrorists in the northern region of Lebanon bordering Syria.
 
A brief Army statement Sunday afternoon confirmed the attack and that soldiers inflicted casualties on the terrorists.
 
“The sounds of shelling are echoing across all towns in northern Bekaa,” the statement added.
 
The army also seized control of the al-Zunnar Fort, which separates between Wadi Hmayyed and the Shbib area in the northern outskirts of Arsal, sources said.
 
The army has hoisted Lebanese flags on the two posts, amid ongoing heavy clashes.
 
Earlier on Saturday, the army shelled posts and vehicles of ISIS terrorists on the outskirts of the eastern border town of Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa.
 
“The War Media outlet said the army was able to inflict casualties among the IS ranks killing and wounding several in al-Mkhayrmeh neighborhood of Ras Baalbek outskirts,” local media said.
 
The army has been intermittently shelling the ISIS posts over the past days.
 
The troops shelled outskirts of Ras Baalbek and the neighboring town of al-Qaa on Friday inflicting casualties and destroying a number of sites.
 
On Thursday, army units continued their deployment in the outskirts of the nearby border town of Arsal, seizing control of Nusra posts liberated by a joint Syrian army-Hezbollah offensive against the terrorists.
 
The Lebanese army is reportedly preparing a major operation aimed at eradicating ISIS militants from the outskirts of al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek. The operation is being coordinated with the Syrian army and Hezbollah who will fight from the Syrian side of the border.
 
In a televised speech on Friday, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah sent  a clear warning to ISIS, stating that "for the first time" there is "national consensus" among the Lebanese nation that the terrorists' annihilation is "imminent."
 
"You’ll lose this battle, you’ll be defeated," he stated, adding that "the timing of this battle is in the hands of the Lebanese army."
 
"Hezbollah would be in the service of the Lebanese army and we will help him in this battle," Sayyed Nasrallah added. The Hezbollah leader said here was still time for ISIS to negotiate surrender before the Lebanese Army launches an offensive against the group near Ras Baalbeck, with Hezbollah and the Syrian army attacking from the Syrian side of the border.