SHEBAA, Lebanon: Despite the ongoing battles between Syrian rebels and the regime just over the mountain, residents are keen to stress that things in the town of Shebaa are fine. “Some media outlets are blowing things out of proportion,” Samia Hamdan said as she diligently sorted lentils. “Was the world ruined because the Army prevented those wounded soldiers from entering?”
The Lebanese Army barred 11 wounded Syrian rebels from entering Lebanese territory through the southern Mount Hermon border region Friday, demanding first the release of 27 servicemen held hostage by the Nusra Front and ISIS militants in Arsal.
The rebels were wounded during heavy clashes that erupted Thursday between Syrian government troops and opposition groups in the Mount Hermon area.
The wounded attempted to enter Lebanese territory after at least 40 people were killed in clashes between government forces and rebels, including the Nusra Front. Fighting in Beit Tima, a majority-Druze region, left 26 pro-government forces and 14 rebels and jihadist fighters dead.
The wounded seeking refuge included seven members of the rebel Free Syrian Army.
The rebels were stopped 700 meters from the Army checkpoint on the Rashaya crossing between the Syrian town of Beit Jin and Lebanon’s Arqoub in the Shebaa region.
“We stand with the Lebanese Army,” Hamdan added. “Each house here has a green uniform [a soldier in the Army].”
Those who spoke to The Daily Star were unanimous in their support for the Army and its decision to prevent the rebels from entering the town. Even children playing under the sun sang the Lebanese anthem, dedicating it to the Army’s soldiers.
Townspeople said most cross-border activity had come to a standstill, in anticipation of fallout from the Syrian war. Lebanese charities based in the town can no longer provide relief to Syrians west of Rif Damascus like they once did. Even mules transporting items face difficulty entering the country, one resident said.
In Shebaa’s town square, where portraits of Future Movement leader Saad Hariri were raised along the main thoroughfares, Hajj Ali Daher waited for customers at his grocery store. “We are safe and nothing will disturb our village,” he said firmly.
“We salute the Lebanese Army for preventing wounded and armed Syrian rebels from entering Shebaa, since we don’t know on what side they belong,” said resident Mohammad Hamdan.
Another resident, Mohammad Abdul-Latif Qadaan, echoed Daher’s staunch support for the military. “There is no way the Nusra Front or ISIS can enter this town,” he said. “The incidents going on around Shebaa will not change this.
“Every Syrian refugee in the town is known by name, and we know where they live. Strangers who enter are identified and questioned, there is no way cells or militants can infiltrate [the town] because there is constant follow-up and monitoring [of Syrian refugees].
“We’re not in Arsal, and we will not allow anyone to enter our town. We are not responsible for anyone and we will never abandon our support for the Lebanese Army.
“We won’t sympathize with anyone except the Lebanese Army.”
Touching on the fears of Shebaa’s residents over the ongoing battles just beyond Mount Hermon in Syria, Qadaan said: “As for the environment inside the town, we [Sunnis, Christians and Druze] all stand in solidarity.”
Shebaa’s muktar, Abdu Hashem, was quick to say that the town had no connection to the militants fighting in Syria, “There are no strangers in the town, we are with the Army.”
“We welcome Syrian refugees and we provide them with everything they need,” he said.
He added that the municipality had set up surveillance cameras to monitor the movements of the town’s refugees, at the behest of the military.
Shebaa’s Mayor Mohammad Saab said the security situation in Shebaa was excellent. “There are no extremists among us, and we have one choice and one choice only: to never abandon the Lebanese Army,” he said, adding that a decision had been taken by officials to prevent the entry of more Syrians into the town.
“There are no more places for them,” he said.
The mayor expressed hope that the government would provide the Arqoub area, which includes Shebaa, Kfar Shuba, Kfar Hammam, Hebbarieh and Hasbaya with aid, since the municipalities in these zones were in dire need of more funding.
Saab said fears harbored by Shebaa’s residents that Syrian refugees in the town would one day stage terrorist attacks were baseless. “There are no weapons in the town, surveillance cameras monitor refugees and there are police patrols ongoing, as well as a curfew on Syrians from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m.”
The Progressive Socialist Party held a meeting in Hasbaya over the weekend. Present were members of the Hasbani-Arqoub Union of Municipalities and representatives of civil society.
“Amid rumors broadcast by some media outlets about Hasbaya, especially Arqoub ... we would like to give assurances that citizens of Hasbaya and Arqoub are historically tied to the government and its institutions,” read a statement issued after the meeting.
A follow-up committee was created by the end of the meeting.
“[I hope] that media outlets and politicians maintain accuracy and the truth in their news about what’s going on in the Shebaa area, Arqoub and the villages of Hasbaya and their relationship with the Syrian villages in Mount Hermon,” Amal Movement MP Qassem Hashem said in a statement.
“We hope those keen to keep Shebaa, Arqoub and Hasbaya secure do their best to keep away from using the language of incitement.”
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