Syrian Planes Raid Arsal as Rockets Land on Various Bekaa Regions

A number of rockets landed on Wednesday in the eastern region of the Bekaa as earlier a Syrian warplane raided the outskirts of the northeastern town of Arsal.

One rocket landed between al-Taybeh and Brital regions, reported LBCI television.

OTV meanwhile said that two rockets landed in a field in Brital near the farm of Qassem Mazloum, while Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said a fourth rocket landed in the Ain al-Jawzeh area, also in the Bekaa.

No one was injured in the incidents.

Conflicting reports had emerged over whether the shells were fired from the Syrian side of the border, but the so-called Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade later claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The extremist group has previously claimed many assaults against Shiite towns and the Lebanese army.

Earlier, a Syrian warplane raided the outskirts of of Arsal and several rockets landed on the villages of al-Labweh and al-Nabi Othman, the army said in a communique on Wednesday.

The military said the plane fired three rockets on Arsal's outskirts at 11:45 pm Tuesday .

At 12:20 am, the nearby towns of al-Labweh and al-Nabi Othman were attacked by three rockets from an area in the eastern mountain range, the communique said.

The two attacks did not cause any casualties, it said.

Following the assaults, the army carried out patrols in the targeted areas, the communique added.

The rocket attack on al-Labweh and al-Nabi Othman, two Shiite towns, seems to have come in retaliation to the air raid on Arsal.

The residents of the towns are supporters of Hizbullah, which is fighting alongside troops loyal to Syrian President Assad against the majority Sunni rebels.

Arsal hosts thousands of Syrian refugees. The Sunni town is sympathetic with the rebels.

G.K./M.T.

H.K.