DAILY SCOPE: Antiquities in Danger, Terrorist Raid Possible on Arsal
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AL-AKHBAR
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AL-MUSTAQBAL
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AD-DIYAR
Tadmor in Hands of Daesh, Fear for 3000-year old Archeological Antiquities
Syrian antiquities are in peril, as Thursday's newspapers shed light on the danger threatening the archeological sites after the terrorist groups are in total control of the Palmyra city. Also, papers shed light on the possibility of terrorist groups raiding the Lebanese Arsal area after being encircled by the Lebanese army, resistance forces and the Syrian army on the Syrian side. Meanwhile, Lebanon awaits the freeing of the hostages who have been in custody of the terrorist groups for months.
Syria's Antiquities in Takfiri Danger ---AD-DIYAR
Terrorist groups in Syria seized full control of the ancient city of Palmyra on Thursday, putting the world heritage site and its priceless artifacts at risk of destruction. Ad-diyar newspaper said "ISIL" now controlled half of all territory in the war-torn country.
The capture of Palmyra, a former stopping point for caravans on the Silk Road, is the latest blow to efforts to hold back the advancing extremists, following the fall of Iraq's Ramadi.
"ISIL fighters are in all parts of Tadmur, including near the archaeological site," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said, using the Arabic name for the city.
"The situation is very bad," Syrian antiquities director Mamoun Abdulkarim said by telephone.
"If only five members of ISIL go into the ancient buildings, they'll destroy everything," he added, calling for international action to save the city.
Palmyra's UNESCO world heritage site ruins, including ancient temples and colonnaded streets, are in the city's southwest.
Hundreds of statues and ancient artefacts from Palmyra's museum have already been transferred out of the city, Abdulkarim said, but many others -- including massive tombs -- could not be moved.
Al-Nusra to Storm Arsal? ---AL-AKHBAR
The al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front is mobilizing to storm the northeastern border town of Arsal within days as information revealed that US drones are flying over the area to collect data on militants and allegedly assist the Lebanese army.
Sources close to the terrorist group said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday that the fighting raging in Syria's Qalamoun between the so-called IS and Nusra Front will compel the latter to withdraw into Arsal "soon."
Despite ideological similarities, the two groups are opposed and in conflict with each other.
Al-Nusra Front is cordoned off from all sides as forces of the Syrian army and Hizbullah are encircling it from three axes: South near the outskirts of Nahle, North near Jousieh and Nehmat hill and from the East near the outskirts of Fleita and al-Jarajeer.
According to the daily, the outskirts near Lebanon's Ras Baalbek remain the only road open before al-Nusra Front, but it remains under the control of the "ISIL", and hence the Nusra Front is left with one option, to head to Arsal, which is under the Lebanese army's control.
The sources pointed out that the group is suffering from a shortage in ammunition, stating that "it will not last long, which would force the fighters to enter Lebanon."
Meanwhile on Thursday, the Lebanese army targeted militant positions and their movement on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal.
The state-run National News Agency reported that troops used heavy artillery and rocket launchers to pound the posts of terrorists and their movement. Media reports said that the army also targeted gunmen on the outskirts of northeastern border village of Ras Baalbek in the Bekaa.
Lebanese Captives to See Freedom Soon - al-Mustaqbal
Lebanese General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim is expected to visit Turkey's Istanbul this week to meet with Qatar's envoy who is mediating the release of Lebanese servicemen taken captive by armed groups, al-Mustaqbal newspaper reported on Thursday.
His trip would come after encouraging signs emerged following the meeting of the crisis cell on the fate of the soldiers and policemen who were taken hostage by al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front fighters from the northeastern border town of Arsal in August last year.
The terrorists also took hostages with them when they overran Arsal but the negotiations with the "ISIL" have stalled over their crippling demands. Qatar's mediator is trying to strike a deal with al-Nusra Front on the release of the Lebanese hostages in a prisoner swap.
According to the paper, the captives will soon be set free in return for releasing several suspects who have been imprisoned in Lebanon on suspicion of committing terrorist crimes without being convicted.
Lebanese Army Dismantles Booby-trapped Car in Arsal Borders---THE DAILY STAR
The Lebanese Army dismantled a car rigged with 35 kilograms of explosives on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal early Thursday, a security source told The Daily Star.
A Lebanese Army bomb disposal squad was called to inspect a suspicious Renault Rapid parked near Al-Rawda Mosque in Ras al-Sarj on the outer edge of Arsal shortly after midnight, a source from the Arsal police said.
He said the Army sealed off the area around the mosque as the explosives unit examined the vehicle.
It took several hours before experts were finally able to defuse the explosives at 4 a.m.
The explosives were distributed between the two front seats and the trunk, all connected to a 10-meter-long wire attached at one end to a detonator, according to the source.
The source said that among the explosives, estimated to weigh approximately 35 kilograms, were also pieces of shrapnel placed inside a funnel.
The bomb was apparently meant to be detonated by a suicide bomber since it was designed to blow up after a pin was pulled, the source quoted one bomb expert as saying.
The vehicle was impounded and taken to the Arsal police station.
Source: al-Ahed news
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