Hezbollah and Syrian army advance in border offensive

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Syrian army advanced against militants on Saturday, the second day of an assault to drive them from their last foothold along the Syria-Lebanon border, pro-Damascus media reported. The operation has targeted insurgents from the former Nusra Front, a group that was aligned to Al Qaeda and who have controlled the barren, mountainous zone of Juroud Arsal. A military media unit run by Hezbollah said its forces captured a strategic hilltop area called Dhahr al Huwa, previously a key Nusra Front base, which allowed them to overlook several border crossings in the area. Forces had earlier seized Jwar al Sheikh, Wadi Kriti and other areas in the southern part of Juroud Arsal, it said. Hezbollah has played a critical part in previous campaigns against insurgents along Lebanon’s border, part of its wider role backing President Bashar al Assad in the Syrian war. Footage on Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV channel showed fighters on a hilltop firing assault rifles and wire-guided missiles at militant positions. The media unit also reported that some Nusra fighters had raised white flags in surrender. The chances of any negotiation with the militants appeared dashed, however, when a mediator and former deputy mayor of Arsal was killed in rocket fire by Nusra fighters, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. — Reuters