Arsal: The battle that begins a long war - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Aug 11, 2014

Damage is seen on a building and a mosque from the fighting between Lebanese army soldiers and Islamist militants, in the Sunni Muslim border town of Arsal, in eastern Bekaa Valley August 7, 2014. Militant Islamists have mostly withdrawn from the Lebanese border town of Arsal, which they seized at the weekend, taking with them captive Lebanese soldiers, militant and security sources said on Thursday, as a truce to end the deadly battle appeared to hold. REUTERS/Ahmad Shalha (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL U — Damage is seen on a building and a mosque from the fighting between Lebanese army soldiers and Islamist militants in Arsal, in the eastern Bekaa Valley, Aug. 7, 2014. — REUTERS/Ahmad Shalha

عربي

The Armenian St. Kevork Church (Saint George) is seen in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on October 30, 2012, after it was burnt during fighting between rebel fighters and Syrian government forces. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Aleppo's Christians in Syrian crossfire

Week in Review

A Syrian refugee girl sits on cement blocks amid damage and burnt tents from the fighting between Lebanese army soldiers and Islamist militants in the Sunni Muslim border town of Arsal, in eastern Bekaa Valley August 7, 2014. Militant Islamists have mostly withdrawn from the Lebanese border town of Arsal, which they seized at the weekend, taking with them captive Lebanese soldiers, militant and security sources said on Thursday, as a truce to end the deadly battle appeared to hold. REUTERS/Hassan Abdallah (

How will the Lebanese military deal with Arsal?

Esperance Ghanem

Esperance Ghanem

A Lebanese Army vehicle drives down a mountain next to Ras-Baalbek, a Christian village on the outskirts of Arsal, August 30, 2014. Lebanese Christian fighters from three Christian villages that surround Arsal have been training for about three years and guarding their villages for the past year fearing a violent spillover from nearby Arsal, which is controlled by Islamic militias, according to the fighters. Picture taken August 30, 2014. REUTERS/Alia Haju (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) -

Nasrallah warns of impending Arsal battle

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Lebanese army soldiers stand near their vehicles at the entrance leading to Arsal August 3, 2014. Following the death of eight Lebanese soldiers killed in clashes with Islamist militants in the area on Saturday, the Lebanese army deployed more troops around the town of Arsal, near the Syrian border. REUTERS/Hassan Abdallah (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) - RTR41268

Arsal clashes a threat to Lebanon's future

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)