Lebanese Ministry of Information
One week has passed since the Army warned of a looming offensive to crush the presence of Daesh extremists in Lebanon and push them outside of the country’s borders.
The Army kept up its daily shelling of Daesh positions throughout the day Monday and into the evening. No injuries were reported from the Lebanese Army, but Daesh suffered multiple casualties, military sources said.
Although an all-out offensive has not reached zero hour, President Aoun called for a Higher National Defense Council meeting to be held at Baabda Palace Tuesday (today). The meeting will be headed by the president and will focus on military plans to launch an offensive against Daesh on the outskirts of Al-Qaa and Ras Baalbeck and the current security situation in the country.
The offensive against Daesh is not expected to start before Wednesday. This suggested start date indicates that the door has not yet been shut on negotiations with Daesh. Authorities have attempted to conduct indirect talks to gain concrete information on the fate of nine servicemen held by the group, in return for the militants’ guaranteed withdrawal to Daesh-held territories inside Syria.
The servicemen are still missing after being kidnapped by Daesh in 2014, after extremists overran Arsal, in Lebanon’s northeast.
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said Monday that Lebanon was approaching a time that would require sacrifices. Addressing families living in Al-Qaa, Bassil said, “We are approaching a time that will see blood and martyrs.” Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said preparations by the Army were ongoing ahead of the highly anticipated battles. “The Army’s preparations are moving forward as necessary … and Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun is a courageous and responsible man,” Machnouk told reporters following a meeting with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian.
The Army receives around $80 million in U.S. training, equipment and funding a year – nearly $1 billion in the last 10 years.
