Lebanon's Hezbollah, Syrian fighters agree cease-fire

By Wasim Saifuddin

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) - Hezbollah and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham armed groups have reached a cease-fire deal in the mountainous Lebanon-Syria border region, according to the official Lebanese news agency Thursday.

“The cease-fire came into effect as of 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) today,” National News Agency (NNA) said, adding the deal had been brokered by Lebanon's General Security Chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim.

The agreement over Juroud Arsal town in Syria includes the exit of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters -- known previously as Al-Nusra Front -- in exchange for release of three Hezbollah fighters who were captured while battling alongside Syrian regime forces in the Syrian Tel el-Ais region in 2016, according to a Lebanese official.

The Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters, their families and civilians who wish to join them will leave for northern Syria’s Idlib province, Ibrahim said.

Speaking in a news conference following meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the general security chief added the movement of people to Idlib will be carried out under "the supervision of the Lebanese state while the Red Cross is in charge of logistical issues".

Ibrahim expressed "optimism” over the cease-fire in Arsal “despite some difficulties".

Backed by Syrian regime’s Air Force, Hezbollah began fighting in Juroud Arsal on July 19 against various Syrian armed groups, including the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and managed to make several gains.

Since the beginning of fighting, human rights groups expressed concerns about the 100,000 Syrian refugees living in the region.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians are believed to have been killed to date.