Six Suspected Syrian Militants Arrested in Arsal
Six suspected Syrian militants were arrested Monday at an army checkpoint in the northeastern border town of Arsal, state-run National News Agency reported.
“Lebanese army intelligence agents arrested at the Ain al-Shaab checkpoint in Arsal six Syrians suspected of belonging to militant groups,” NNA said.
It noted that the detained men include two Syrian army defectors.
On July 29, ten Syrian defectors were arrested in the northern Bekaa town of al-Labweh, which neighbors Arsal.
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.
Jihadists from the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front groups stormed the town in August 2014 and engaged in deadly battles with the army following the arrest of a top militant.
They withdrew from Arsal at the end of the fighting, but kidnapped a number of troops and policemen. A few have since been released, four were executed, while the rest remain held.
Y.R.
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