6 Syrians Arrested in Koura as Army Raids Sidon Refugee Compounds

Six Syrian suspects were arrested Thursday at places inhabited by Syrian refugees in the northern district of Koura, state-run National News Agency reported.

The six men were apprehended in the towns of Bdibba, Aaba, Bsarma and Kfarqahel, NNA said, adding that they have have referred to the relevant judicial authorities.

In the evening, the agency said the army raided the Abra and al-Alayli Syrian refugee compounds in the southern city of Sidon without arresting anyone.

It also said troops carried out raids in the Keserwan area of Faraya "in search for fugitives" and inspected "suspicious locations," without mentioning if the development has to do with Syrian refugees.

On Wednesday, a number of Syrian refugees were arrested during army raids in the southern Jezzine region.

There has been growing resentment by Lebanese citizens against Syrian refugees after Islamist militants from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front abducted in August a number of soldiers and policemen from the northeastern town of Arsal while withdrawing from the village after fierce clashes with the Lebanese army.

Hosting more than 1.1 million Syrians fleeing their country's three-year war, Lebanon is home to the highest number of Syrian refugees in the region, and also to the highest refugee population per capita in the world.

Y.R.