Army Clashes with Jihadists on Outskirts of Ras Baalbek

The Lebanese army clashed at dawn Thursday with al-Nusra Front fighters on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek in northeastern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency said.

The intermittent gunbattles took place on the western side of Asal al-Wared, said NNA.

Also at dawn Thursday, troops targeted with heavy artillery the movement of jihadists on the outskirts of the northeastern town of Arsal.

The fighters were furthermore targeted in Wadi Hmeid, Muheet al-Malahi and al-Rihwa, the agency added.

The army continuously clashes with jihadists, whose threat rose in August last year when they overran Arsal and took with them hostages from the military and police following heavy gunbattles with troops.

G.K.

H.K.