Arsal Man Who Sent al-Labweh Bomb-Laden Car Killed in Syria

The man who was behind sending a booby-trapped car that was seized in the Bekaa town of al-Labweh has been killed in clashes in Syria.

“Lebanese national Hasan Mohammed Ammoun and five Syrians were killed in the ongoing battles between the Syrian army and opposition in (Syria's) Yabrud,” LBCI television reported.

State-run National News Agency published the same report but identified the man as Hussein Mohammed Ammoun.

“His body will be transferred to Arsal, his hometown,” LBCI added.

It described Ammoun as “one of the most dangerous fugitives who are wanted by security agencies,” saying “he was the one who handed the bomb-laden Kia that was seized at al-Labweh checkpoint to Joumana Hmayyed last month.”

Meanwhile, al-Jadeed television said “the dangerous fugitive H. A. was found killed in Arsal's outskirts.”

The army intercepted the booby-trapped vehicle on February 12 on the Arsal-al-Labweh road.

In addition to Joumana Hmayyed, the car contained two other women who hail from Arsal.

Media reports said the car was headed for Beirut where it was supposed to be handed over to would-be suicide-bombers.

Quoting military sources, LBCI said the women confessed to plotting "a triple bombing during which the car and two suicide bombers were supposed to blow up."

However, two of the three women were eventually released a few days later while the driver Joumana Hmayyed was kept in custody.

"State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr ordered the release of Hala Rayed and Khadijeh Audeh for not having any links with the incident,” state-run National News Agency said at the time.

Arsal lies 12 kilometers from the border with Syria and has been used as a conduit for weapons and rebels to enter Syria, while also serving as a refuge for people fleeing the conflict that erupted in 2011.

The Lebanese army has several times seized cars loaded with arms and ammunition in the town and its outskirts.