DAILY SCOPE: 90% of al-Nusra Posts Lost, 64% of Land Occupied By Terrorists Freed

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

AS-SAFIR

Options Before al-Nusra after Arsal Outskirts: Fleeing or "Emirates"!
Turkey Enters Tunnel of Elections' Aftermath

AL-AKHBAR

Resistance in Control of 90% of al-Nusra Area
Jumblat: Consensus or Void
Turkey: Ruling Crisis

AL-JOMHOURIYA

Arsal: Battle to Take off Any Second

Lebanese newspapers on Tuesday focused on the advances made by the Islamic Resistance in face of the terrorist takfiri groups al-Nusra and the so-called ISIL, with vast areas of land coming under the control of Hizbullah. Also, papers shed light on the ongoing Presidential vacuum, where the country remains without president in light of talks between the Christian factions to resolve the impasse.

AL-AKHBAR

Field sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that the resistance has liberated an area of 225 km square from the Lebanese territory occupied by the terrorist groups since the beginning of the military operations along the Eastern mountain chains. The source further noted that "also in the Syrian Qalamoun, 287 km square were liberated on the hands of the resistance fighters as well."

The source highlighted that 64% of the lands that were taken by al-Nusra and Daesh, the extremist groups were liberated, while more than 90% of the al-Nusra posts were seized and are under the control of the resistance. Hizbullah, according to the source, also managed to link Flita barrens with those of Arsal by controlling the main crossing between them.

The paper quoted al-Manar sources as saying that the overall result is more than half of the territories where terrorists of the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) and al-Nusra Front takfiri groups were deployed was liberated since Hizbullah launched a wide military campaign against takfiris in the area.

Christians Should Agree on Consensual Candidate --- AL-AKHBAR

Head of the Democratic Gathering, Walid Jumblat, has advised Christian parties not to waste historic opportunities and to settle on a consensual candidate other than Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

"My advice to Christian parties is to stop wasting historic opportunities," the MP told al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday, adding "They are not yet convinced on the importance of a consensual candidate other than Michel Aoun and Samir Geagea."

In his remarks, Jumblat noted that Saudi Arabia and Iran are in a dispute over the situation in Yemen, so there won't be any mediator to help Lebanese MPs elect a new president.

In answer to whether he thought that the Christians were responsible for the vacuum, Jumblat said: "Yes, although they will not like what I am saying."

"They haven't yet realized the size of the loss; some leaders are dreaming to become presidents although huge obstacles are standing in their way for the presidency," he highlighted, and went on to say "The majority of the political parties have not yet understood that there is no president for the time being."

Jumblat also urged the Lebanese officials to overcome their "selfishness" because of fears that the violence in neighboring countries, mainly Syria, would spread to Lebanon.

"The Islamic State group is in Palmyra, which means (at Lebanon's) doorsteps at a time when we are drowning like the Tower of Babel," he cautioned.

AL-JOMHOURIYA

The Lebanese army stands before real challenges, now that the resistance has advanced in the barren lands of Arsal which forced the terrorist groups of al-Nusra to retreat to other towns and camps surrounding the town.

Sources from the March 8 camp told al-Jomhouriya newspaper on Tuesday that the Lebanese army should be at utmost readiness to any moves, especially with speculations that the armed groups might have attempts to kidnap citizens from the town of Arsal to put pressure on the Lebanese army and resistance.

Source: al-Ahed News