Speaker Nabih Berri voiced support for a highly-anticipated battle between Hezbollah and Islamist militants in Syria's Qalamoun region Sunday, describing the impending fighting as an attempt by the resistance to liberate Lebanese lands. "The [militants] have wrested control over roughly 600 square kilometers of land on the outskirts of Arsal and other areas," a report published by Al-Hayat Sunday quoted the Speaker as saying. "And as long as there is an occupation of Lebanese land then I support the [efforts] of the resistance to liberate it." He also said that the Qalamoun battle is "brewing" and would commence "very soon." The speaker's comments come as Hezbollah is reported to be mobilizing its fighters for a much-anticipated offensive against Islamist militants, namely ISIS and the Nusra Front, entrenched in Syria's Qalamoun region. The two groups are still holding hostage 25 Lebanese servicemen captured during the fierce fighting with the Lebanese Army in the northeastern town of Arsal last August. As for the role played by the Lebanese Army, the speaker said that soldiers should not venture into Syrian territory but should protect their bases in the outskirts of Arsal in order to prevent militants from entering into Lebanese territory. Berri acknowledged that the battle could widen the rift between the Future Movement, which vehemently opposes any intervention in Syria, and Hezbollah. He said, however, that the aim of the battle is to end the militant's control over Lebanese territories, not to meddle in Syrian affairs. With regards to the case of 25 Lebanese captive servicemen who have been held hostage by ISIS and Nusra Front since August, Berri hinted that the battle could involve an operation to secure there release. "For your information, the servicemen being held captive by militants are on Lebanese territory," he said in reference to the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal. Elements of ISIS, the Nusra Front and other Syrian rebel groups have been fighting each other and against forces allied to the Syrian government in the Qalamoun mountain range over the past two years. Fighting intensified following the Syrian government's capture of the western city of Yabroud last March. The capture of the city sent rebel fighters fleeing towards the Qalamoun mountains, along the border with Lebanon. In October, Nusra fighters in Qalamoun launched a surprise attack on Hezbollah posts on the outskirts of the eastern Lebanese towns of Brital and Nahle, killing eight. The Lebanese Army has also clashed intermittently with Qalamoun-based rebels along Lebanon's eastern border.
