Source: Army's Preemptive Attack Thwarted Terrorist Plot in Arsal

A preemptive attack carried out by the Lebanese army on militants taking the Lebanese-Syrian border as a refuge was aimed at thwarting a terrorist plot, a security source said Thursday.

On Wednesday, the army killed six Islamic State militants and arrested 16 others in its biggest operation yet against the extremist group on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The arrested suspects have told investigators that the terrorists were plotting an attack on the army similar to the 2014 assault that left scores of policemen and troops dead and injured.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said on Thursday that Islamic State militant Khaled Mohammed al-Salem aka al-Hout has succumbed to his wounds in a hospital in the Bekaa valley after being wounded in the clashes with the army.

In the August 2014 attack, the IS and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front also took several servicemen hostage. Al-Nusra released the captives late last year.

The source told As Safir daily that more than 15 terrorists had gathered in the Wadi al-Araneb area of Arsal to attack army posts by carrying out suicide attacks and taking more hostages.

The source said there had been a clear attempt by the terrorists to change the balance of power in the region and impose a new status quo in Arsal.

Wednesday's developments came several days after the IS engaged in clashes with al-Nusra Front on Arsal's outskirts and took over several of the groups positions.

G.K.

D.A.