Army Arrests Syrian Rebel Commander in Arsal

The army on Monday arrested a Syrian rebel commander in the border town of Arsal, which is witnessing along with other Bekaa towns an unprecedented security plan.

“The Lebanese Army has arrested a Syrian group in Arsal,” LBCI television reported.

For its part, state-run National News Agency said the army arrested at Arsal's Wadi al-Shaab checkpoint “a number of Syrians, including Mohammed Abdul Dayem al-Aaraj, the commander of the (rebel) military council in Qusayr and Qalamoun.”

According to LBCI, the official goes under the nom de guerre of Abou Jassem.

The army had arrested on Thursday in Arsal ten Syrians who tried to enter into Lebanon with fake identification papers. On the same day, three Syrians were arrested at a house in Arsal and one of them was carrying a suicide vest containing 3.5 kilos of explosives.

Ever since the Syrian revolt erupted in March 2011, Arsal has served as a key conduit for refugees, rebels and wounded people fleeing strife-torn Syria.

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