Hadi Al Bahra, president of the Syrian Coalition, hails efforts made to defuse the crisis in Arsal, home to tens of thousands of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. A 24-hour truce was put into effect early on the morning of today, allowing the withdrawal of the militant groups into Syria and the entry of the Red Cross team to evacuate the wounded and deliver relief aid to the town. The truce was brokered through a committee of the residents of Arsal, the Muslim Scholars Association and the Red Cross, who will guarantee that no armed forces will enter the town, and that the Lebanese armed forces are the only side whose task will be restoring security and stability.” Bahra stresses that the Syrian Coalition has been closely following the situation in Arsal and communicating with humanitarian and relief organization in the town, in addition to discussing the situation with several parties in the Lebanese government and parliament. On the first day of the crisis I telephoned the Lebanese Interior Minister Nihad al-Mashnouq to find ways to end the crisis in Arsal and to discern the position of the Lebanese government. We also discussed the situation with the friendly countries to pressure toward finding a suitable solution that ensures the safety and security of the Syrian refugees and the Lebanese civilians in the town. Moreover, we have reached out to the Association of Muslim Scholars, which formed a committee entrusted with reaching a solution that guarantees the safety of Syrian refugees and Lebanese civilians. The committee included several organizations, including life humanitarian organizations, Syrian activists and representatives the revolutionary movement. The committee worked relentlessly on defusing the crisis, and they even risked their lives while trying to enter the besieged the town. Some of its members were injured when their vehicles came under fire on its way to the town.” Bahra also said that he “regrets the attempts of some parties to thwart the efforts towards solving the problem peacefully, pointing out that the only solution that ensures the stability of Syria and Lebanon is through pressuring Hezbollah to stop sending its sectarian militias to fight alongside regime forces, in violation of all international conventions and human rights laws. The Lebanese government must take serious and practical steps towards Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria, as this intervention was decided by orders from Iran in line with its ambitions in the region. The Syrian Coalition, as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, will prosecute all perpetrators of war crimes against the Syrian people, whatever their nationality.” Bahra concluded his remarks “hoping the return of security and stability to Lebanon,” stressing that the Syrian Coalition firmly stand against any attempts by the terrorist organizations to destabilize the two countries. We have taken urgent measures to take care of the wounded Syrians and to provide them with relief aid in addition to contacting with donor countries to rebuild the refugee camps. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the Syrian and Lebanese victims and wish them a speedy recovery.” It is worth noting that Syrian rebel factions in adjacent Qalamoun announced their full commitment to the safety and stability of Lebanon, reaffirming their respect of its borders and its rejection of any military action that violates the sovereignty of Lebanon.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
