You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Syria-Lebanon-Iran
US special forces on the ground in Lebanon – report
2017-08-07
[IsraelTimes] American troops aiding Lebanese army ahead of border offensive against Islamic State, which could see participation of Hezbollah

US special forces were reportedly on the ground in Leb ahead of a push by the US-backed Lebanese army against the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
jihadist group along its northeastern border with Syria.

"I can confirm the presence of US Special Forces in Leb," a Pentagon front man told the al-Hurra TV network on Thursday. "Our special forces are providing training and support to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

"That not only concentrates on operational type missions, but also tactical and strategic type missions. We also have a presence with Lebanese Special Forces in all aspects of training and special operations," said spokesperson Eric Pahon.

Pahon would not elaborate on the nature of the operations by US troops and the number of special forces soldiers in the country.

According to the report, the US troops were in Leb to assist the Lebanese army in its upcoming offensive against the Islamic State -- a campaign that the Leb-based, Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah was expected to join.

Military sources told the Asharq al-Awsat daily the US soldiers "have been present in Leb to monitor the US military aid delivered to the army."

This week, Hezbollah took credit for ending the presence of al-Qaeda elements in the border area, following a week-long military offensive and then a negotiated settlement that saw hundreds of al-Qaeda-linked holy warriors return to Syria along with their families and thousands of civilians.

The Lebanese military, which has received more than $1 billion in US security assistance in the past decade, took a back seat in that operation. In a clear distribution of roles, the army is now expected to spearhead an upcoming fight in another section of the border, this time against IS.

Declaring victory Friday night, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the army was perfectly capable of winning that fight but offered his support should it be needed.

"We are at the service of the Lebanese army and under its command... if they ask for any help we will help," he said in a televised speech.

Army 'Won't Coordinate with Anyone' Militarily in Border Assault

[AnNahar] The Lebanese army "does not need anyone’s support in the military operation it intends to launch to oust the bully boyz of the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group from the outskirts of the towns of al-Qaa and Ras Baalbek," a military source has said.

In remarks to al-Hayat newspaper published Sunday, the source also denied reports of possible assistance from the warplanes of Russia or the U.S.-led coalition.

"The Army Command is in constant communication with the U.S. side, which has been meeting its needs in terms of arms and ammunition, and it has not asked for assistance from the coalition’s fighter jets," the source said.

Al-Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
newspaper meanwhile quoted senior military sources as saying that "the Lebanese army will not coordinate with anyone, neither with the Syrian army nor with others, seeing as it possesses enough military capabilities to liberate the outskirts."

"The zero hour will only be set by Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, not by anyone else," the sources added.

Also on Sunday, ad-Diyar newspaper reported that the army would attack the IS group "from the Lebanese side" and that the Syrian army and Hizbullah
...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory...
would pounce on the jihadists from the Syrian side in order to "ensure a quick victory in the battle."

"Meetings are being held between the sides that will take part in the battle in order to coordinate the military operations and this battle cannot be fought without this coordination," the daily reported.

The army has intensified its shelling of IS’ posts in recent days amid reports that an army operation to oust the jihadist group from the border region has become imminent.

The military developments follow a Hizbullah offensive that ended the presence of the jihadist al-Nusra
...formally Jabhat an-Nusrah li-Ahli al-Sham (Support Front for the People of the Levant), also known as al-Qaeda in the Levant. They aim to establish a pan-Arab caliphate. Not the same one as the Islamic State, though .. ...
Front group in Arsal’s outskirts.
Posted by:trailing wife

#3  So how doubtful of your own troops' capabilities that you call for Americans to show them how to do it better?
Posted by: Richard Aubrey   2017-08-07 23:51  

#2  Do they have real helicopters or Obama Hollywood Pakistan ones?
Posted by: Crinegum Ulaigum2776   2017-08-07 17:07  

#1  Oh happy day!
Posted by: Skidmark    2017-08-07 00:03  

00:00