Army Arrests Senior al-Nusra Front Fugitive in Arsal
A senior member of al-Nusra Front, al-Qaida's Syria franchise, was arrested Monday in the northeastern border town of Arsal, state-run National News Agency reported.
“The Lebanese army arrested senior al-Nusra Front member Ibrahim Mutaweh this afternoon in the town of Arsal,” NNA said.
Mutaweh was wanted for “involvement in acts of terror and taking part in battles against the Lebanese army,” the agency added.
Ever since the Syrian revolt erupted in March 2011, Arsal has served as a key conduit for refugees, militants and wounded people fleeing strife-torn Syria.
Jihadists from al-Nusra and the Islamic State group are entrenched in the town's outskirts. In August 2014, they stormed the town and engaged in bloody battles with the Lebanese army following the arrest of a senior IS militant.
The jihadists withdrew after a ceasefire, but took with them several dozen hostages from the army and police, four of whom have since been executed.
Y.R.
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