(Wall Street Journal) Yaroslav Trofimov - On Saturday, parallel operations by Lebanon's army from inside Lebanon and by Hizbullah fighters advancing from Syria cleared out Islamic State's redoubt in the mountainous Qalamoun region straddling the border. A deal struck by Hizbullah allowed hundreds of Islamic State militants to move to the group's remaining territory in eastern Syria. The U.S. launched two airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday aimed at stopping the convoy carrying the fighters and their families. Many Lebanese were upset with how Hizbullah negotiated with Islamic State - an approach that seemed to undermine the authority of the Lebanese army and the Lebanese state. Nevertheless, nobody in Lebanon today appears in a position to resist Hizbullah's strategic choices.
2017-08-31 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive