Al Anbar
16-09-2004, 03:22
al-Jazeera News
Beirut, Lebanon Governorate, Al Anbar - According to information from eye witnesses and our contacts within the government of Al Anbar, Iraqi troops today stormed several places locations controlled by the militant Hizbullah and associated groups in the Lebanon Mountains.
Eye witnesses fleeing from the battle, have said that Iraqi troops ran into heavy resistance by these insurgents who control the cities of Jezzine, Zatile, and several small villages in the mountains. Iraqi forces reportedly captured the Jezzine and have seized most of Zatile after heavy fighting on the road to the city and in the city itself.
Hizbullah officials, broadcasting on their satellite channel al-Manar TV, have given statements that their forces are under attack but are beating back the Iraqis and have not lost control over Zatile and Jezzine. But Hizbullah is also asking for assistance from all Islamic fundamentalist organizations, calling on them to attack Al Anbar "anywhere and everywhere" and calling on Iraqi soldiers to "rise and overthrow the damned secularists in power [of Al Anbar]."
The Iraqi government has not given any press releases as of yet and the official word is that this isn't even happening. A team of al-Jazeera journalists attempted to travel to the city of Jezzine, but were stopped by Iraqi troops about fifteen kilometres from the city and were ordered to return to Saida. They did, however, hear heavy gunfire and several rounds from a tank being fired. There was also large plumes of smoke rising from the area.
Since the unification of Lebanon into Al Anbar, Hizbullah and other militants that share their ideals have moved into the Lebanon Mountains, seizing villages and cities. For many months, however, the situation has been quiet until now.
Beirut, Lebanon Governorate, Al Anbar - According to information from eye witnesses and our contacts within the government of Al Anbar, Iraqi troops today stormed several places locations controlled by the militant Hizbullah and associated groups in the Lebanon Mountains.
Eye witnesses fleeing from the battle, have said that Iraqi troops ran into heavy resistance by these insurgents who control the cities of Jezzine, Zatile, and several small villages in the mountains. Iraqi forces reportedly captured the Jezzine and have seized most of Zatile after heavy fighting on the road to the city and in the city itself.
Hizbullah officials, broadcasting on their satellite channel al-Manar TV, have given statements that their forces are under attack but are beating back the Iraqis and have not lost control over Zatile and Jezzine. But Hizbullah is also asking for assistance from all Islamic fundamentalist organizations, calling on them to attack Al Anbar "anywhere and everywhere" and calling on Iraqi soldiers to "rise and overthrow the damned secularists in power [of Al Anbar]."
The Iraqi government has not given any press releases as of yet and the official word is that this isn't even happening. A team of al-Jazeera journalists attempted to travel to the city of Jezzine, but were stopped by Iraqi troops about fifteen kilometres from the city and were ordered to return to Saida. They did, however, hear heavy gunfire and several rounds from a tank being fired. There was also large plumes of smoke rising from the area.
Since the unification of Lebanon into Al Anbar, Hizbullah and other militants that share their ideals have moved into the Lebanon Mountains, seizing villages and cities. For many months, however, the situation has been quiet until now.