At Least 100 Syrian Refugees Killed or Wounded in Arsal Clashes

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More than 100 Syrian refugees have been either killed or wounded in the deadly clashes between army troops and jihadist fighters in the northeastern border town of Arsal, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced on Wednesday.

"At least 100 Syrian refugees have been killed or wounded in the shelling on regions where they are taking refuge in Arsal,” the Observatory said in a released statement, without holding any party responsible for the bombing.

It also called on the United Nations not to limit its support to providing food and humanitarian aid to the Syrian refugees, but to also work on evacuating them from the Bekaa region and to find safe havens for them.

The Observatory had urged in a previous statement for “immediately halting all shelling and military operations in regions where Syrians are taking refuge.”

"These people were forced to leave their homes, towns and cities in Syria and came to Lebanon to escape military operations and shelling,” it noted.

Army chief General Jean Qahwaji assured on Tuesday that the “army's fight against takfiris (extremists) is continuing.”

He remarked on Sunday that the fighters are foreigners of different nationalities who came from neighboring countries in coordination with people residing in refugee camps.

The fighting in Arsal erupted on Saturday after soldiers arrested a man accused of belonging to al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate, Al-Nusra Front.

At least 17 soldiers have been killed in the Arsal fighting, including two officers, according to security sources, and the army said 22 troops are missing, possibly taken hostage.

Another 20 policemen are also missing, security sources say, and 86 soldiers have been wounded.

S.D.B.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 8
Thumb lebneneh over 9 years

1- Palestinian and Sysrian Refugees are in several countries around the world. A minority of them caused problems only in Lebanon. I don't know if you are able to put 1 and 1 together and figure out why. Because the state in Lebanon is week or even non-existent.

2- You are a narrow minded,hateful Lebanese. Unfortunately people like you are the majority in Lebanon that why we will never have a strong state any time soon in Lebanon.

Default-user-icon Toplay (Guest) over 9 years

Blaming Palestinians and Syrians for Lebanon's destruction is absurd. The only ones to be blamed for what is happening to Lebanon are Lebanese. Second, as a neighboring country who suffered atrocities from Syrian and Israeli aggressions, we should be the first to understand the situation of these poor refuges and come for help...These are the only actions, which will make us proud of ourselves as Lebanese citizens.

Default-user-icon tony (Guest) over 9 years

Syrian refugees must go back to Syria! Not all Syria is at war.. they are in Lebanon to work and make money, not here as refugees
They need to leave our country as soon as possible

Default-user-icon John (Guest) over 9 years

If only a "minority of them" caused problems in Lebanon, where was the majority of them to stop it from happening?

It wasn't only in Lebanon, they tried it in Jordan and the government sent jets to flatten the camps (20,000 killed). Not one single bullet was shot from a palestinian in Jordan ever since.

Back to my point. The "majority" is irrelevant. It takes a few to cause damage, take a look at Arsal. Or what ISIS is doing in Iraq/Syria, or Hamas in Gaza, or Nazis in Germany. All are minorities but cause/caused devastation.

Default-user-icon John (Guest) over 9 years

But all have 1 thing in common, a weak state. With that, I agree completely we with you. We need to drastically fix our government and put them back in place. Then we need to improve our security. No military-grade weapons outside of the Lebanese military (people can still own guns, just like in every country in the world) but no rockets, missiles, armoured vehicles, etc. Full control to the Army to protect our borders (no open borders, build a fence around lebanon as well as several security points to make sure weapons and drugs aren't being brought in) and to the Police to ensure security from within.

Default-user-icon John (Guest) over 9 years

Until all that is covered, Lebanon can't and will not move forward. Consistent security will ensure for consistent tourism (which we can offer all year round) as well as an increase in immigration (ideally from Lebanese expats living abroad who can come back and offer a lot to Lebanon). With increase in tourism, as well as corporations opening up, we will have an increase in funds and more job opportunities. More funds = we can offer better security, improve our military, improve our education and improve our infrastructure like offering free tap drinking water to all Lebanon (we are more than capable) as well as offering around the clock electricity.

Maybe I should run for president?

Thumb cedre over 9 years

+1000

Thumb cedre over 9 years

according to geneva convention, LAF could and should be sued for using unguided shells on civilian areas...
or is sunni blood so cheap in lebanon ?