Explosion in Arsal kills one Lebanese soldier

Published March 24th, 2016 - 12:14 GMT
Lebanese forces have been actively trying to rid Arsal of militants ever since Daesh and Al Nusra Front overran the border town. (AFP/File)
Lebanese forces have been actively trying to rid Arsal of militants ever since Daesh and Al Nusra Front overran the border town. (AFP/File)

A Lebanese soldier was killed on Thursday in a roadside bombing that targeted a military patrol on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal, the state-run National News Agency reported. Ras Baalbek.

NNA said the attack took place in the area of Wadi Atta.

The assault prompted the army to shell the position of gunmen on the outskirts of Arsal and Ras Baalbek.

Assailants have in the past targeted military vehicles with roadside bombs in the Arsal area.

Militants from the Islamic State group [Daesh] and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front overran Arsal in August 2014 and engaged in heavy battles with the army.

The fighters withdrew to Syria but took with them hostages from the military and the Internal Security Forces. They later beheaded several of them.

While al-Nusra Front freed 16 servicemen in exchange for Islamist prisoners last December, there are no news on the nine hostages taken by the IS.

The outskirts of Arsal and other towns bordering Syria continue to witness sporadic clashes between the army and the jihadists.

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content