Army Arrests Terrorist Gang in Bekaa, Kills Syrian after Illegally Crossing to Lebanon

The army opened fire overnight Thursday at a group of Syrians in a minibus, who were trying to infiltrate the country from the border crossing of Ain Ata in the Bekaa southwest of Rashaya.

According to the National News Agency, armed clashes erupted between the army and a group of Syrians in a minibus as they tried to illegally cross into Lebanon from Ain Ata.

The minibus, which reportedly contained ten armed Syrians and three Lebanese men, didn't respond to stop warnings, prompting the army to open fire at it.

NNA reported that one Syrian was killed and two others were wounded as the remaining passengers were arrested.

The driver of the minibus hails from the town of al-Rafid in the Bekaa valley and was identified by his initials M. A.

The news agency said that the detainees were referred to the army intelligence, adding that the wounded were transferred to Rashaya's public hospital.

LBCI television later reported that the army arrested a terrorist cell comprising six Syrians in the western Bekaa town of al-Suwairi.

It identified one of them as Mohammed Barakat, who is wanted on several charges, including combating the army.

H.K.

M.T.