BEIRUT: Lebanese troops on Saturday launched an offensive against the militant Islamic State group on the country’s eastern border with Syria, seeking to drive the jihadists from a long-time stronghold.
The operation came as IS faces multiple military attacks on territory it controls in both Syria and neighbouring Iraq, where it lost the city of Mosul in July.
Militants have long been active in mountainous eastern Lebanon near the border with Syria, where a bloody civil war has raged since 2011.
In 2014, jihadists invaded the border town of Arsal, capturing 30 Lebanese soldiers and police. Security forces in the region have since come under regular attack.
“In the name of Lebanon, in the name of kidnapped Lebanese soldiers, in the name of martyrs of the army, I announce that operation ‘Dawn of Jurud’ has started,” army chief General Joseph Aoun said on Saturday.
He was referring to two mountainous border areas — Jurud Ras Baalbek and Jurud al-Qaa — where IS has been active.
Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2017
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