Change and Reform bloc held on Tuesday its weekly meeting at Rabieh to discuss local and regional development. Speaking on behalf of the blocs members, former Minister Salim Jreissati stressed the necessity of beefing up Lebanese army posts, adding that cooperation should take place with the Syrian army to protect Lebanon's border. He also said that the army is still awaiting weapons shipments from foreign countries that will enable it to properly confront terrorists. On another note, Jreissati commented on the death of Saudi King Abdullah last week, saying that the bloc hopes that the “Saudi kingdom will continue to unite the Arab world.” Eight soldiers were killed and 20 were injured in clashes with terrorists in the Tallet al-Hamra region in Ras Baalbek on Friday. The army on Tuesday continued shelling the armed men posts and movements on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek. The mountainous area has long been a smuggling route with multiple roads into Syria that have been used since the uprising started in March 2011 to transport arms and fighters. Syria's civil war has frequently spilled into Lebanon, with jihadists briefly controlling the border town of Arsal in August after battles with the Lebanese army. The jihadists withdrew to the mountainous regions after a ceasefire, but took with them several hostages from the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces, four of them have since been executed.