Eight Lebanese Soldiers Martyred in Clashes with Terrorist Groups in Arsal

BEIRUT- Eight Lebanese soldiers were martyred in clashes with armed terrorist groups that continued overnight in and around the border town of Arsal near Syria, a Lebanese Army statement said Sunday.

“The Army continued its military operations throughout the night and this morning in Arsal and its environs, as it pursued armed groups and clashed with them,” the statement said, according to the “Daily Star”.

Lebanese Army units continued their attacks with heavy artillery on the gunmen bases in the mountainous outskirts of the village.

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported on Saturday that  following the arrest of Imad Ahmad Joumaa at a Lebanese army checkpoint in Ersal plains, tension rose in the region and its surroundings as armed groups spread out in the area demanding his release, and ventured into deliberately kidnapping 2 army soldiers in return.

The incident coupled with attacks by armed groups comprised of different nationalities against army positions in Ersal.

According to the Army statement, the army units adopted immediate measures to cope with the situation, and got into clashes with armed groups using heavy weapons, which resulted in a number of martyrs and injured soldiers and citizens from the town of Ersal.

The Army managed through its intensive operations to set the 2 kidnapped soldiers free, the statement said.

Army sources say the operation against the gunmen will continue until armed presence in the village is eradicated.

Agencies

H. Mustafa