Gunmen Deploy in Arsal after Man Killed in 'Hizbullah Supporters Ambush', Brother Urges Vengeance
Gunmen deployed on Tuesday in the Bekaa town of Arsal after its municipality announced the death of a town resident in “an ambush by Hizbullah supporters” in the Hermel region.
“Ali Ahmed al-Hujairi was killed in an ambush by Hizbullah supporters in the barren mountains of (the town of) Beit Jaafar between Akkar and Hermel,” the municipality's deputy chief told MTV.
Meanwhile, state-run National News Agency said Hujairi was killed "when he came under gunfire on the Hermel-al-Shirbin public road."
"Unknown attackers shot dead Hujairi as he was driving his pickup truck that was loaded with rocks, accompanied by Syrian workers," NNA said.
"At once, security forces arrived on the scene and launched a probe into the incident," the agency added.
In the evening, NNA said a number of gunmen gathered in central Arsal in protest at the killing of Hujairi.
Sheikh Mustafa al-Hujairi, Ali's brother, delivered a speech before the gunmen and called for "jihad and vengeance," NNA said.
LBCI described the gunmen as "Salafist groups."
"Anger is boiling in the town of Arsal where gunmen have deployed, although Hermel's residents condemned the killing of Ali al-Hujairi and the army encircled the town to prevent any repercussions," the agency reported earlier.
The Syrian crisis has led to frequent security incidents in the areas of Arsal and Hermel near the border with the war-torn country.
Dozens of wounded Syrian rebels have been transported into the Bekaa region in recent days after incurring injuries in the battle for the strategic Syrian town of Qusayr.
And several Lebanese army troops were recently killed in an armed attack by Syrian gunmen on their checkpoint in Arsal's outskirts.
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