The Lebanese army has published on Saturday on its official website a video retracing all of its actions during the year 2017, including its victory against the jihadists of the Islamic State group (IS) along the Syrian border.
Maneuvers, Seizure of Weapons and Mine Clearance
Beginning with an aspiring soldier pronouncing his military oath, the video of more than five minutes depicts an army with “one eye on terrorism and the other on the Israeli enemy”.
The video focuses largely on the operation called “Dawn of the Jrudes”, launched by the Lebanese Army on August 19 against the terrorist group known as ISIS or ISIL, in the heights of Ras Baalbeck and Qaa, in the Bekaa. Combining images of military maneuvers, weapon seizures and mine clearance, the video pays tribute to the seven soldiers killed and wounded in the fighting against the jihadists. The operation was completed, nine days later, with the evacuation of the Islamic State fighters to the Syrian territory.
The video also focuses on the military taken hostage by the jihadist group in August 2014 in Arsal, whose bodies were found in these “Jrudes” nearly three years later; the martyrs were honored in a national tribute on September 8th 2017.
The arrests
The video also features key jihadists who were arrested later this year, such as Omar Assi, a supporter of Salafist Ahmad el-Assir (currently in custody), who attempted to commit a suicide bombing in the Costa café located in Hamra on January 21; also Mustapha Hujeiri, aka “Abu Takiye”, accused of being involved in the kidnapping of soldiers (Martyrs) held by the jihadists in Arsal.
The video also shows the Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, inspecting the troops during official visits.
Finally, the Lebanese army mentioned in the video the military equipment offered by several countries such as the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy and by the United Nations.
Translated by Hala Hayek Najjar
(For details kindly watch the video above)
