Army Moves Into Central Bekaa to Contain Hizbullah-Mustaqbal Clashes
Tank-led army units moved into contested regions of the Central Bekaa Valley after overnight clashes between Hizbullah and Mustaqbal partisans wounded four people and inflicted severe damage to property.
Helmeted troops erected checkpoints, frisked the few pedestrians who ventured out in the central Bekaa and carried out house raids in search of gunmen involved in the clashes that covered the pro-Mustaqbal towns of Saadnayel and Taalabaya, on the one hand, and the Hizbullah strongholds of Taalabaya Farms, Jlala and Ommol, on the other.
Schools and businesses closed and high tension prevailed over the region at night fall amidst efforts by the army to contain the situation and prevent renewed outbreak of clashes.
Mustaqbal Movement, in a statement, accused Hizbullah of provoking the clash in which rocket-propelled grenade launchers and 60-mm mortars were used.
A Hizbullah source, on the other hand, accused Mustaqbal of escalating violence to hamper efforts aimed at implementing the Doha Accord and forming a national unity cabinet.
The Mustaqbal statement also accused Hizbullah members of beating up three citizens in Beirut overnight Sunday and smashing a shop, despite declared pledges by the party to facilitate implementation of a security plan in the capital.
A reliable source in the Bekaa, speaking to Naharnet on condition of anonymity, said the army”s deployment in the valley”s central sector is a "major test to its ability to maintain law and order."
"What happens in the Bekaa is a mere reflection of tension in Beirut. If the army succeeds in containing the situation and preventing renewed clashes, we would have hope in the future," the source added.
He said the Bekaa Sunni Mufti, Sheikh Khalil al-Mays, is sponsoring a meeting of the region”s leaders and main figures for Tuesday to brief them on the situation and outline future prospects.