Clashes eased on Tuesday in the northeastern border town of Arsal, and became concentrated in Ras al-Sarj where the Lebanese army is currently attempting to retake control after it surrounded the hills of Wadi al-Rayan and Wadi Ata, in a bid to tighten the noose on armed militants.
Meanwhile, security sources reported to Reuters that the Lebanese army agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire Arsal, pointing out that it aims at continuing negotiations related to the release of kidnapped security forces.
The ceasefire was due to start at 7 pm (1600 GMT), the source said
Fighting resumed in Arsal at around 7 a.m. as the army pushed efforts to recapture a number of buildings seized by Islamic militants, the National News Agency said.
Military sources told LBCI that no truce will be accepted with the armed groups, and the battle will continue, pointing out that the army brought in military reinforcements to Arsal, mainly the Artillery and Armor Regiments.
On the other hand, sources told LBCI that the negotiations conducted by the delegation of the Muslim Scholars are ongoing, but have not yet yielded progress.
The sources added that no results have yet been achieved regarding the demands of the army command, given the large number of armed groups spread across Arsal. The demands of the army command include the withdrawal of all armed men from Arsal and the release of the kidnapped security forces.
Two Internal Security Forces members identified as Mtanios Mrad and Khaled Saleh and a third Lebanese soldier, Rami Jamal were released in Arsal later in the day.
The release was a "goodwill gesture" to allow a group of the Lebanese Sunni Muslim clerics to strike a deal to end the four days of fighting in the town, a militant source said.
The militants are still believed to be holding around 22 members of the security forces - both soldiers and policemen.
On another note, Lebanese Red Cross Operations Director George Kettaneh told LBCI that the Red Cross managed to transport Sheikh Salem al-Rafei outside the town, stressing that his health condition is stable.
The vehicle transporting the negotiating delegation of the Muslim Scholars came under fire in Arsal, injuring Sheikh al-Rafei in the leg, while Sheikh Jalal Kalash was severely wounded and transported to the American University of Beirut Medical Center for treatment.
In this context, the Association of Muslim Scholars said that it has not yet received any information concerning the party that attacked the convoy of the delegation, adding that it will continue its efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Elsewhere, fighting erupted on Monday night in Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli after news that several Sunni clerics had been wounded as they entered Arsal to try to broker a ceasefire. Men blocked several roads in the city Tuesday morning, and most shops were closed and streets rendered empty.
Clashes erupted in Arsal on Saturday afternoon when Syrian gunmen deployed across the region after the Lebanese Armed Forces arrested Syrian national Imad Ahmad Jomaa at a checkpoint.
The army said 16 soldiers have been killed, with 22 others missing and 86 injured in the fighting.
Lebanese security officials say the fighters include members of al Qaeda's Syria branch, the Nusra Front, and an al Qaeda splinter group, the Islamic State, which has seized swathes of land in Syria and Iraq.
LBCI/REUTERS
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