Uprising in Arsal

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The uprising in Arsal was an uprising by Islamist-Syrian rebels against the Lebanese armed forces from August 2 to 7, 2014. The trigger is seen as the arrest of Imad Ahmad Jomaa, the leader of the Fajr al-Islam Brigade, who is loosely associated with the Islamic Organization State is connected.

prehistory

Arsal is located in northern Lebanon near the Syrian border. Due to the Syrian civil war , the area around the city has been subject to repeated attacks in the past. Around 100,000 Syrian refugees sought protection in Arsal, and both the al-Nusra Front and Hezbollah around Arsal were active, which has already led to security concerns. In the days leading up to the uprising, some sources suggested that the Lebanese Armed Forces would support Hezbollah while the residents of Arsal sympathize with the Syrian rebels. Nevertheless, on July 31, 2014, the mayor and the city council asked the military to draw up a security plan, as has already been implemented in Tripoli .

Action

On August 2nd, Imad Ahmad Jomaa was captured by the Lebanese armed forces around Arsal. As a result, Syrian rebels surrounded checkpoints on the same day and demanded the commander's release. Two soldiers died at the Wadi Hmayyed checkpoint. In addition, the police station in Arsal was surrounded and stormed by rebels. Two civilians were killed and several Syrians were freed. However, Syrian rebels also suffered losses of 11 fighters. The fighting continued the following day. The armed forces were able to recapture Wadi Hmayyed, but in Arsal they limited themselves to using only artillery. Rebels attacked a barracks. In Arsal itself, residents fought for the liberation of the city, while others fought for the Al Nusra. Other residents were preparing to leave the city, but could not yet. In addition, the armed forces in Tripoli were attacked because of the fighting in Arsal. On August 5th, the armed forces were able to retake both Ras al-Sarj Hill and Barracks 83 - a military facility - both of which are important vantage points. However, the rebels tried to recapture various hills, but were pushed back. Towards evening the Syrian air force attacked rebel positions on Lebanese territory. The Lebanese armed forces in turn shelled the Al-Hosn quarter. In the evening, a 24-hour truce was supposed to begin, on the one hand to bring wounded civilians out of the city and on the other hand to enable the rebels to leave the city for Syria. Al Nusra fighters announced that they would leave the city relatively quickly. ISIL fighters, however, initially refused to take the same step. Some rebels attacked two bases and broke the ceasefire after three hours. However, the next day the ceasefire was extended until the evening of August 7th, and so the ISIL could also be persuaded to leave the city. August 8th is said to have been quiet in Arsal, but after the end of the ceasefire there were isolated fighting outside of Arsal. On August 9, Arsal was completely under Lebanese control for the first time.

Reactions

The Saudi King Abdullah called on France to carry out an arms deal that will send Saudi Arabia $ 3 billion in goods as quickly as possible. The deal was passed at a conference in Rome to better equip the Lebanese armed forces.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Who is Imad Ahmad Jomaa? In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 4, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  2. ↑ Rakan al-Fakih, Elise Knutsen: Arsal on high alert as border battles close in. In: The Daily Star. IDS, July 19, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  3. ^ Elise Knutsen, Nizar Hassan: Arsal officials demand a Tripoli-style security plan. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 9, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  4. ↑ Rakan al-Fakih: Militants kill two Lebanese soldiers in Bekaa clashes. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 2, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  5. ^ Nidal al-Solh Rakan al-Fakih: 11 soldiers, 30 militants killed in east Lebanon. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 3, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  6. ↑ Nidal al-Solh, Rakan al-Fakih, Kareem Shaheen: Army make advances in battle against militants in Arsal. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 5, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  7. ↑ Rakan al-Fakih: Truce collapses, clashes renew in northeast Lebanon. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 5, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  8. ↑ Deal reached: ISIS to leave Arsal, soldiers to be released. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 6, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  9. ↑ Hasan Lakkis Hussein Dakroub: Army in control after militants flee Arsal. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 8, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  10. ↑ Nidal al-Solh: Lebanese Army enters Arsal in full force. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 9, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .
  11. ^ Saudi king pledges to speed up support to Lebanon. In: The Daily Star. IDS, August 5, 2014, accessed August 9, 2014 .