Militants Dead and Injured in Infiltration Clash With Army

Several jihadists were killed and wounded in gunbattles with the Lebanese army that repelled their advance from the Syrian border town of Fleita into Lebanese territories, the state-run National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

NNA said that the army confronted the militants on the northeastern border overnight after they tried to infiltrate Lebanon from an area near Fleita that lies in the Syrian Qalamoun region.

The gunbattles that ensued left several fighters dead and injured, the agency added.

Fleita is located near the Lebanese border town of Arsal, which witnessed last month heavy gunbattles between the Lebanese army and jihadists from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front.

The militants are holding several hostages from the military and police. Two of them were beheaded recently.

The jihadists have threatened to kill more unless the Lebanese authorities meet their demands, which reportedly include the release of Sunni Islamists held in Roumieh prison and the withdrawal of Hizbullah from Syria.

G.K.

H.K.