Armed Syrian Arrested in Arsal over 'Secretly Entering' Border Region

An armed Syrian national was arrested on Saturday in the Bekaa town of Arsal as he was trying to infiltrate the border region.

"The Arsal police department managed to arrest A.S., 18, in the Wadi Hmayyed region of Arsal,” the Internal Security Forces said in a released statement.

The arrest came as he was trying to secretly enter the town.

The ISF noted that the arrested man was a Syrian national, and that he was armed with a kalashnikov rifle and a war gun.

"Investigation is ongoing under the supervision of the relevant judicial authority,” the ISF added.

Ever since the Syrian revolt erupted in March 2011, Arsal has served as a key conduit for refugees, rebels and wounded people fleeing strife-torn Syria.

Last week, the army said it arrested seven Syrians in Arsal for trying to enter Lebanon illegally.

The National News Agency said “suspicious” identification papers were found in their possession.

And in late April, troops arrested a Syrian rebel commander in the border region.

The army also arrested ten Syrians who tried to enter into Lebanon with fake identification papers. Three other Syrians were as well arrested at a house in Arsal and one of them was carrying a suicide vest containing 3.5 kilos of explosives.

These arrests come as army troops and security forces are implementing an unprecedented security plan in the North and the Bekaa.

The plan has succeeded so far in the arrest of dozens of outlaws, and in seizing several stolen cars and illegal weapons in these regions

S.D.B.