World Bulletin / News Desk

Hezbollah's media said on Thursday that they had made fresh advances against armed forces in mountains southwest of the Lebanese border town of Arsal, taking a key crossing linking the area to eastern Lebanese villages.

Al-Manar TV said Hezbollah had taken the area of Wadi al-Darb and Al-Rahwe checkpoint, which was previously held by Nusra Front militants and allied armed groups.

The channel also reported that Hezbollah captured Al-Darb crossing, which it reported was used by armed group in the past to smuggle car bombs into the predominantly Shiite Lebanese village of Labweh.

"The resistance's mujahideen are advancing toward Al-Rahwe plains,” added Hezbollah-run Al-Manar, broadcasting videos published by the group's "war media" agency showing fighters advancing in orchards and engaging with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades.

The footage also showed one of the men cautiously walking to the newly-taken hilltop to replace the black jihadi flag previously erected by the Nusra Front with Hezbollah's yellow flag.