LAF soldiers killed, others injured in Arsal clashes, army sends...

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Several Lebanese Armed Forces members were killed and injured during the clashes that erupted in the northeastern border town of Arsal on Satuday afternoon, after Syrian gunmen deployed in across the town’s mountainous region, in retaliation for the arrest of Syrian national Imad Ahmad Jomaa at a LAF checkpoint.

In this regard, sources reported that the LAF Airborne Regiment units have been clashing directly with the gunmen, in a bid to lead them out of the region.

This comes as Arsal residents managed to bring the members of the Internal Security Forces unit of the town out from the base, after the resident Kamal Ezzeddine was killed, and two others were injured as they stood against the gunmen who stormed and surrounded the said base, calling on the authorities to release four Syrian detainees.

Meanwhile, gunshots were heard in the towns of Wadi Hmeid and al-Msaydeh in the region of Arsal, near LAF checkpoints, while 4 rockets were reported to have landed near an army base in al-Hosn, sources said, adding that the Lebanese army responded to the sources of fire.

Eye witnesses from Arsal reported that smoke was seen billowing from two army checkpoint in the area.

This comes as the army managed to free two soldiers who had been kidnapped by the gunmen in the town.

Accordingly, the army sent reinforcements to the town and issued instructions, ordering the soldiers to respond to sources of fire.

Earlier in the day, sources reported that Syrian masked gunmen riding motorcycles and ATVs, deployed in the town of Arsal and near the army checkpoint in the town of al-Msaydeh.

In this regard, security sources told LBCI that the deployment comes after the Lebanese army arrested Imad Ahmad Jomaa, a Syrian national hailing from the town of Qusair who had fled his town when the regime forces took control of it.

Meanwhile, other sources reported that groups of Hezbollah fighters have been advancing toward the areas where the Syrian gunmen are deployed.

Later, the LAF Command declared that, on Saturday at noon, Syrian national identified as Imad Ahmad Jomaa was arrested at an army checkpoint in Arsal, adding that, following interrogations, Jomaa confessed that he is affiliated with al-Nusra Front.

The army command stated that the arrestee was referred to the concerned authorities for further interrogations.