Army Tightens Security Measures in Arsal

The Lebanese army tightened security measures on Tuesday in the northeastern border town of Arsal, media reports said.

The troops closed the road at an Intelligence checkpoint in the Ain al-Shaab neighborhood in Arsal, amid tight measures on the main entrances to the town, they added.

Tight security measures were taken in the Wadi Hmeid area in the outskirts of Arsal.

VDL (93.3) said the army has later reopened the road, but kept measures tight to fend off the infiltration of militants.

Arsal lies 12 kilometers from the border with Syria and has been used as a conduit for weapons and rebels to enter Syria, while also serving as a refuge for people fleeing the conflict in the neighboring country.

The Army exerts incessant efforts to fend off any assault by militants who are entrenched on the mountainous area along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Media reports said over the weekend that due to the army's incessant efforts to fight militants and gunmen, the number of militant groups “has significantly dropped.”