Lebanese opposition politicians are concerned that the town of Arsal on the northeastern border with Syria could be targeted in coming days, as a prelude to it being besieged and its residents displaced. This comes amid increased talk by the Syrian regime that Arsal is a stronghold and conduit for "terrorists," in reference to militants fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Based on the observations of opposition politicians in Lebanon, the Syrian regime has been talking through its media outlets about a camp for "terrorists" and has specified its location. However, it did not target it when it bombed the suburbs of Arsal, instead targeting other sites within its environs.

This information was given to President Michel Suleiman by official Lebanese agencies during his tour in Africa, which prompted him to ask the minister of foreign affairs to send a message to the Syrian leadership objecting to the violation of Lebanese sovereignty, though Damascus has denied the bombing.

Opposition politicians quote army commander Brig. Gen. Jean Kahwaji as having told the pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar newspaper that he rejects the army’s launching of an attack on Arsal on the grounds that it is a base for extremist armed Islamists, similar to the Nahr al-Bared camp, which the Lebanese army was forced to raid and destroy in 2007 after the massacre of about of 20 soldiers at the hands of Fatah al-Islam militants. The raid operation cost the army 170 officers and soldiers.