Al-Akhbar visited the Syrian region that runs along the border with Lebanon, touring villages, towns, and even caves there, where opposition and al-Qaeda-affiliated militants are holed up in preparation for the coming battles. In the first part of this investigation, we will look at the illegal crossings along the border and meet with “mujahideen” from al-Nusra Front.
The road to the Qalamoun mountain range in Syria passes obligatorily through Ersal. This town in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley, whose name means “Throne of God” in Aramaic, has become one of the major arenas of the battles raging in Syria.
The line of demarcation between Ersal and the adjacent town of Labweh, meanwhile, is growing wider by the day. Before arriving in Ersal, one is greeted by a portrait of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and portraits of Hezbollah’s fallen fighters who died in Syria. Black banners for Ashura adorn the streets of Labweh as well. As you turn right, you see mighty mountains being gobbled up by stone crushers, and you know you are only a few minutes away from your destination.