Army Carries Out Raids in Several Areas, Arrests Suspects

The Lebanese army detained several suspects for carrying out terror-linked acts, including a Syrian national, who was infiltrating into the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The army said in a communique issued on Saturday that Syrian national Mohammed Mustapha Mustapha was detained while trying to infiltrate illegally into Lebanese territories by evading checkpoints.

He is suspected of having links to a terrorist organization and carrying suspicious documents.

According to the statement, Mustapha was riding a motorcycle without having a licensee.

The communique also pointed out that an army unit raided several suspicious locations in the northern Metn areas of Fanar and al-Sabtiyeh, arresting two Syrians, a Palestinian and three Lebanese nationals.

The unit seized in the possession of the apprehended men light weapons, drugs, cameras and communication equipment.

The statement said that all suspects, along with the seized items, were referred to the competent judiciary.

The army and security forces had been carrying out in recent months raids in various regions throughout Lebanon in search for wanted fugitives and suspected terrorists.

The army has been cracking down on Syrian refugees across the country after the military engaged in battles with militants from al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group in Arsal in August.

There are fears that the Syrian refugee encampments in Lebanon could turn into areas that harbor militants, or a springboard to head to Syrian or Lebanese territories for violent acts.