BEIRUT: Lebanese Hezbollah launched attacks against Sunni jihadist militants on Monday as part of an offensive to drive them from their last foothold along the Syria-Lebanon border, a military media unit of the group said.
Forces of the Iranian-backed Shiite group advanced from several directions against militants in the Wadi Al-Kheil area of Juroud Arsal, a barren mountainous border zone which has served as a base for jihadists.
The offensive, launched on Friday by Hezbollah and the Syrian army, has so far focused on militants from Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch, previously called the Nusra Front.
The Hezbollah media unit has reported rapid advances against Nusra fighters. The next target will be territory held by Daesh militants, local media have reported.
The Syrian army and Hezbollah recaptured the area around the town of Fleita on the Syrian side of the border on Sunday, Syrian state news agency SANA said.
The offensive has so far killed 19 Hezbollah fighters and more than 130 Sunni militants, according to a security source.
Hezbollah has played a critical part in previous campaigns against Sunni insurgents along Lebanon’s border, part of its wider role backing President Bashar Assad in the Syrian war.
Hezbollah’s role has drawn criticism from its Lebanese political opponents, including Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri, who is a Sunni.
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Hezbollah wages multi-pronged attack on militants at Syrian border — media unit
Hezbollah wages multi-pronged attack on militants at Syrian border — media unit
Israel police say two dead in stabbing, car ramming attack
- The attack came a day after an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the West Bank
JERUSALEM: A Palestinian from the Israeli-occupied West Bank killed a man and a woman in a stabbing and car-ramming attack in northern Israel before he was shot and wounded on Friday, Israeli police and rescuers said.
“Preliminary investigation indicates this was a rolling terror attack that began in the city of Beit Shean, where a pedestrian was run over,” the police said in a statement, adding the victim was a 68-year-old man.
“Later, a young woman was stabbed near Road 71, and the suspect was ultimately engaged with gunfire near Maonot Junction in Afula following intervention by a civilian bystander,” it said, adding that the attacker was taken to a hospital.
Both the victims succumbed to the injuries, Israel’s emergency service provider Magen David Adom said in a statement.
MDA also reported that a 16-year-old teenager was slightly injured when “hit by a vehicle.”
The Israeli military said the attacker had “infiltrated into Israeli territory several days ago.”
The attack came a day after an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the West Bank.
“Preliminary investigation indicates this was a rolling terror attack that began in the city of Beit Shean, where a pedestrian was run over,” the police said in a statement, adding the victim was a 68-year-old man.
“Later, a young woman was stabbed near Road 71, and the suspect was ultimately engaged with gunfire near Maonot Junction in Afula following intervention by a civilian bystander,” it said, adding that the attacker was taken to a hospital.
Both the victims succumbed to the injuries, Israel’s emergency service provider Magen David Adom said in a statement.
MDA also reported that a 16-year-old teenager was slightly injured when “hit by a vehicle.”
The Israeli military said the attacker had “infiltrated into Israeli territory several days ago.”
The attack came a day after an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the West Bank.
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