Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Kahwagi said on Thursday that the military institution is keen on the safety of the residents of the border town of Arsal, denying that Lebanese troops had laid a siege.
Kahwagi's comments were made following his visit to the newly elected Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Daryan at Dar al-Fatwa.
He also noted that the military institution was exerting all efforts to guarantee the safety of the Lebanese people across all regions "without any form of discrimination."
Jihadists overran the border town of Arsal last month and engaged in deadly clashes with the Lebanese army.
The militants from the al-Qaeda-linked the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group took with them hostages from the army and the Internal Security Forces as they withdrew from the town.
They later killed three, and vowed to execute the rest of them if the Lebanese authorities did not meet their demands.
The battles and the threats, sparked tight security measures by the army in and around Arsal.
It blocked roads on the outskirts of Arsal used by the militants to receive their supplies, and carried out raids, arresting hundreds of suspects, including militants who had attacked the army.