7 Syrians Arrested in Arsal over 'Suspicious' IDs

Seven Syrians were arrested on Friday in the border town of Arsal for possessing “suspicious” identification documents.

"The army arrested seven Syrians in Arsal for illegally entering Lebanon," the military institution said in a communique.

The state-run National News Agency reported earlier that eight Syrians were detained at a checkpoint in the Arsal plains for possessing "suspicious identification documents."

The detainees were referred to the Arsal police department for further investigation, added the NNA.

On Wednesday, eight soldiers were wounded in an ambush in al-Rahwa region on the outskirts of Arsal when armed clashes broke out between the Lebanese army and gunmen.

And last week, troops held 10 Syrian nationals also in Arsal for possessing illegal documents and arrested three others in one of the town's houses where they seized an explosive belt.

On March 19, 15 Syrians, including members of the extremist al-Nusra Front, were arrested in Arsal for entering Lebanon with “fake identification papers.”

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.

S.D.B.