17 Syrians Charged with Belonging to Terrorist Group

Seventeen Syrians were charged on Thursday with belonging to an armed terrorist group, reported the National News Agency.

It said that State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged them with belonging to a terrorist organization in order to carry out attacks in Lebanon.

The charges also include fighting against the army in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

Twelve of the suspects are in custody, while the rest remain at large.

They may face the death penalty if convicted.

Saqr has since referred the case to the First Military Examining Magistrate Judge Riyad Abu Ghida.

The army was engaged in August in clashes with Islamist gunmen from the Islamic State and al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front groups.

The gunmen from Syria overran the town and later abducted a number of policemen and soldiers from the area.

Three have since been executed, a few were released, while the rest are still kidnapped.

M.T.

H.K.