Syrian army, Hezbollah advance against ISIL in western Qalamoun

World
Europe

The Syrian army and allied Hezbollah retook several areas from ISIL militants in western Qalamoun on Saturday, a military source told Xinhua.

Just hours after launching their offensive against ISIL, the Syrian army and Hezbollah made notable gains in western Qalamoun near the Lebanese borders, capturing 87 square kilometers of the ISIL-controlled 150 square kilometers in the region.

A dozen of ISIL militants surrendered to the army and Hezbollah, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Dubbed "If You Return We Will Return," the operation, which aims to clear ISIL militants from the badlands of the western Qalamoun, came just a couple of weeks after they dislodged the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front from the same area and the adjacent Juroud Arsal barrens on the Lebanese side of the border.

Syrian pro-government forces hold a position in the Jurud al-Qaa mountainous border area in the western Qalamoun, on August 19, 2017, during an offensive against ISIL group fighters. /AFP Photo

In the last battle against Nusra, the Syrian army and Hezbollah were fighting on the Syrian side of the border, while other fighters of Hezbollah were fighting on the Lebanese side of it.

At the time, the Lebanese army wasn't engaged in the fight but took defensive positions in case of any attempt by the Nusra militants to carry out counter-attacks.

In this battle against the ISIL, Hezbollah and the Syrian army are fighting in Syria, while the Lebanese army is fighting ISIL in Lebanon.

Lebanese officials said there was no coordination between the Lebanese army and Hezbollah or the Syrian army.

The army in Lebanon will have to liberate around 120 square kilometers of land from ISIL, while the Syrian army and Hezbollah are fighting to defeat ISIL in 150 square kilometers of border terrain.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency