Gunmen Abduct 3 Arsal Residents, Steal Sheep Flock

Gunmen in the border town of Arsal abducted on Saturday three of the region's residents and a flock of 100 sheep, the state-run National News Agency reported.

"Gunmen attacked Abdul Raheem Abdul Radi al-Atrash as he was herding his flock on the Eastern Mountain Belt in the Arsal plains, and kidnapped him along with his flock,” the NNA detailed on the incident.

And as the town's residents attempted to save and free al-Atrash, the kidnappers held two others identified as Ahmed Ezzeddine and another from the Ghadada family, added the NNA.

Also in the Bekaa, armed men have stolen 20 sheep from a Syrian shepherd in the plains of the Ras Baalbek region, but returned them later after overnight negotiations.

The NNA described what happened: “Gunmen attempted to steal 100 out of a flock of 200 sheep in Ras Baalbek. But then, the Army's Airborne Regiment interfered and pursued the outlaws, who managed to squeeze 20 sheep inside their four-wheel drive and left the remaining 80 in the area.”

But after overnight negotiations, the owners of the flock were able to recover the stolen sheep.

In April, eight troops were wounded as armed clashes broke out between the Lebanese army and gunmen in the eastern Bekaa region of Arsal.

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.

S.D.B.