Naharnet

Army Detains Six Syrians over Suspicious Links to Armed Groups

The army detained six Syrians in the eastern border town of Arsal over suspicious links to armed groups, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.

NNA said that four of the suspects were apprehended on the Wadi Ain Ata army checkpoint, while the remaining two were arrested on Ain al-Shaaeb post.

They are all suspected of belonging to an armed group, the news agency said, pointing out that they were handed over to the military police.

On Wednesday, the Lebanese army also detained eight Syrians who are suspected of having links with an al-Qaida offshoot.

The army said in a communique that it seized 8 Syrians in the eastern border town of Arsal for illegal entry. Some of them were driving unregistered cars and motorcycles and are suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations, it added.

The NNA said that they are suspected of having links to the al-Qaida-inspired al-Nusra Front.

The al-Nusra Front, completely unknown before the rebellion in Syria that began two years ago, has been a rebel standard-bearer since mid-2012 when it became the spearhead of the insurgency ahead of the Free Syrian Army.

Arsal, a predominantly Sunni area, backs the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The town lies 12 kilometers from the border with Syria and has been used as a conduit for weapons and rebels to enter Syria, while also serving as a refuge for people fleeing the conflict.

The town has seen a massive influx of refugees as a result of the heavy fighting in Qalamoun.

H.K.

M.T.


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