Syrian IS Official Assassinated in Arsal

An Islamic State group official was shot dead on Wednesday in the restive Bekaa border town of Arsal, state-run National News Agency reported.

“Three gunmen riding a motorcycle shot dead Syrian national Ahed al-Jawwash, aka Abu Adham al-Hamawi, one of IS' security officials in Arsal,” NNA said.

The agency said his body was found in Arsal's al-Sabil Square before being transferred to the town's al-Rahma hospital.

IS militants and others from the rival jihadist group Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as al-Nusra Front, are entrenched in Arsal's outskirts and in mountainous areas along the undemarcated Lebanese-Syrian border.

The Lebanese army regularly shells their posts while Hizbullah and the Syrian forces have engaged in clashes with them on the Syrian side of the border.

The two groups overran the town of Arsal in 2014 before being ousted by the army after days of deadly battles.